Zimmerman Laura M
Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St, Decatur, IL 62522, USA.
Integr Comp Biol. 2022 Dec 30;62(6):1572-1583. doi: 10.1093/icb/icac022.
Recent studies have established that the innate immune system of reptiles is broad and robust, but the question remains: What role does the reptilian adaptive immune system play? Conventionally, adaptive immunity is described as involving T and B lymphocytes that display variable receptors, is highly specific, improves over the course of the response, and produces a memory response. While reptiles do have B and T lymphocytes that utilize variable receptors, their adaptive response is relatively non-specific, generates a prolonged antibody response, and does not produce a typical memory response. This alternative adaptive strategy may allow reptiles to produce a broad adaptive response that complements a strong innate system. Further studies into reptile adaptive immunity cannot only clarify outstanding questions on the reptilian immune system but can shed light on a number of important immunological concepts, including the evolution of the immune system and adaptive immune responses that take place outside of germinal centers.
最近的研究表明，爬行动物的先天免疫系统广泛且强大，但问题依然存在：爬行动物的适应性免疫系统发挥着什么作用？传统上，适应性免疫被描述为涉及具有可变受体的T和B淋巴细胞，具有高度特异性，在反应过程中会得到改善，并产生记忆反应。虽然爬行动物确实拥有利用可变受体的B和T淋巴细胞，但其适应性反应相对非特异性，产生持久的抗体反应，并且不会产生典型的记忆反应。这种替代性的适应性策略可能使爬行动物产生广泛的适应性反应，以补充强大的先天系统。对爬行动物适应性免疫的进一步研究不仅可以澄清关于爬行动物免疫系统的悬而未决的问题，还可以阐明一些重要的免疫学概念，包括免疫系统的进化以及生发中心之外发生的适应性免疫反应。
