Concluding remarks and the challenge from the immune system

Abstract

This meeting has covered a wide range of approaches to the study of interactions of biomembranes and one is struck by the progress in their analysis and the application of many new methods. The main theme of the meeting has been the structure of biomembranes and their components. Rather than pick highlights of these or attempt to summarise the findings in these Concluding remarks, I will instead summarise some of the interactions of the cells of the immune systems for which immunologists would like explanations at a molecular level. One of the features of the immune system is that it involves a variety of populations of cells that have complex migratory patterns and interactions that occur throughout life. The surfaces of these cells—the leukocytes—mediate interactions that are essential for the fine control of the immune system that ensures the rapid but controlled rejection of foreign materials such as viruses and bacteria. At the same time it must ensure that reactivity against self is prevented, otherwise autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis may result. Some of the features of the interactions involved are outlined in this short overview with more detailed analysis of the leukocyte cell surface given in ref. 1.