1887
No metrics data to plot.
The attempt to load metrics for this article has failed.
The attempt to plot a graph for these metrics has failed.

The Phagocyte, Metchnikoff, and the Foundation of Immunology

MyBook is a cheap paperback edition of the original book and will be sold at uniform, low price.
  • XML
    65.34 Kb
  • PDF
    2.75 MB
  • HTML
    80.70 Kb
  • Authors: Giuseppe Teti1, Carmelo Biondo2, Concetta Beninati3
  • Editor: Siamon Gordon4
  • VIEW AFFILIATIONS HIDE AFFILIATIONS
    Affiliations: 1: Metchnikoff Laboratory, Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 2: Metchnikoff Laboratory, Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 3: Metchnikoff Laboratory, Department of Pediatric, Gynecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy; 4: Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
    • Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
  • Received 14 May 2015 Accepted 17 July 2015 Published 22 April 2016
  • Giuseppe Teti, [email protected]
image of The Phagocyte, Metchnikoff, and the Foundation of Immunology
    Preview this microbiology spectrum article:
    Preview Magnify
    Zoom in
    Zoomout

    The Phagocyte, Metchnikoff, and the Foundation of Immunology, Page 1 of 2

    | /docserver/preview/fulltext/microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-2.gif

  • Abstract:

    Since the ability of some cells to engulf particulate material was observed before Metchnikoff, he did not “discover” phagocytosis, as is sometimes mentioned in textbooks. Rather, he assigned to particle internalization the role of defending the host against noxious stimuli, which represented a new function relative to the previously recognized task of intracellular digestion. With this proposal, Metchnikoff built the conceptual framework within which immunity could finally be seen as an active host function triggered by noxious stimuli. In this sense, Metchnikoff can be rightly regarded as the father of all immunological sciences and not only of innate immunity or myeloid cell biology. Moreover, the recognition properties of his phagocyte fit surprisingly well with recent discoveries and modern models of immune sensing. For example, rather than assigning to immune recognition exclusively the function of eliminating nonself components (as others did after him), Metchnikoff viewed phagocytes as homeostatic agents capable of monitoring the internal environment and promoting tissue remodeling, thereby continuously defining the identity of the organism. No doubt, Metchnikoff’s life and creativity can provide, still today, a rich source of inspiration.

  • Citation: Teti G, Biondo C, Beninati C. 2016. The Phagocyte, Metchnikoff, and the Foundation of Immunology. Microbiol Spectrum 4(2):MCHD-0009-2015. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.

References

1. Silverstein AM. 1989. History of Immunology. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
2. Mechnikov I. 1908. On the present state of the question of immunity in infectious diseases. Nobel lecture, December 11, 1908.
3. Tauber AI. 1994. The Immune Self: Theory or Metaphor? Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. [CrossRef]
4. Tauber AI. 1999. The elusive immune self: a case of category errors. Perspect Biol Med 42:459–474. [PubMed][CrossRef]
5. Tauber AI. 1991. The immunological self: a centenary perspective. Perspect Biol Med 35:74–86. [PubMed][CrossRef]
6. Tauber AI, Chernyak L. 1991. Metchnikoff and the Origins of Immunology: from Metaphor to Theory. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.
7. Gourko H, Williamson DI, Tauber AI. 2000. Introduction, p 3–32. In Gourko H, Williamson DI, Tauber AI (ed), The Evolutionary Biology Papers of Elie Metchnikoff. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. [CrossRef]
8. Hirsch JG. 1959. Immunity to infectious diseases: review of some concepts of Metchnikoff. Bacteriol Rev 23:48–60. [PubMed]
9. Vaughan RB. 1965. The romantic rationalist: a study of Elie Metchnikoff. Med Hist 9:201–215. [PubMed][CrossRef]
10. Lépine P. 1966. Elie Metchnikoff et l’immunologie. Pierre Seghers, Paris, France.
11. Metchnikoff E. 1959. Souvenirs. Recueil d’articles autobiographiques, 328 pages, traduits du russe par L. Piatigorski et commentes par A. Gaissinovitch, Moscou.
12. Besredka A. 1921. Histoire d’un idee. Paris, France.
13. Levaditi C. 1945. Centenaire d’Elie Metchnikoff. Presse Medicale 30:363–364.
14. Ramon G. 1945. Eloge d’Elie Metchnikoff à l’occasion du centième anniversaire de sa naissance. Bull Acad Med 129:294–301.
15. Cavaillon JM. 2011. The historical milestones in the understanding of leukocyte biology initiated by Elie Metchnikoff. J Leukoc Biol 90:413–424. [PubMed][CrossRef]
16. Gordon S. 2008. Elie Metchnikoff: father of natural immunity. Eur J Immunol 38:3257–3264. [PubMed][CrossRef]
17. De Kruif P. 1954. The Microbe Hunters, 2nd ed. Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich, San Diego, CA. [PubMed]
18. Wright AE, Douglas SR, Sanderson JB. 1903. An experimental investigation of the rôle of the blood fluids in connection with phagocytosis. Proc R Soc Lond 72:357–370. [CrossRef]
19. Jungeblut CW, Berlot JA. 1926. The role of the reticulo-endothelial system in immunity. I. The role of the reticulo-endothelial system in the production of diphtheria antitoxin. J Exp Med 43:613–622. [PubMed][CrossRef]
20. Roberts EF. 1929. The reticulo-endothelial system and antibody production. I. The appearance of antibody in the circulation. J Immunol 16:137–149.
21. Cannon P, Baer R, Sullivan TL, Webster JR. 1929. The influence of blockade of the reticulo-endothelial system in the formation of antibodies. J Immunol 17:441–463.
22. Tuft L. 1934. The effect of the reticulo-endothelial cell blockade upon antibody formation in rabbits. J Immunol 27:63–80.
23. Siegmund H. 1922. Speicherung Dutch reticuloendothelien, cellulite Reaktion und Immunitat. Klin Wehnschr 1:2566–2567. [CrossRef]
24. Elvidge AR. 1933. The reticulo-endothelial system and the source of opsonin. J Immunol 24:31–64.
25. Metchnikoff E. 2000. The struggle for existence between parts of the animal organism, p 207–216. In Gourko H, Williamson DI, Tauber AI (ed), The Evolutionary Biology Papers of Elie Metchnikoff. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
26. Anderson KV, Jürgens G, Nüsslein-Volhard C. 1985. Establishment of dorsal-ventral polarity in the Drosophila embryo: genetic studies on the role of the Toll gene product. Cell 42:779–789. [PubMed][CrossRef]
27. Lemaitre B, Nicolas E, Michaut L, Reichhart JM, Hoffmann JA. 1996. The dorsoventral regulatory gene cassette spätzle/Toll/cactus controls the potent antifungal response in Drosophila adults. Cell 86:973–983. [CrossRef]
28. Metchnikoff O. 1924. The Life of Elie Metchnikoff 1845–1916 (Lankester ER, transl). Constable, London, United Kingdom.
29. Metchnikoff E. 1905. Immunity in Infective Diseases (Binnie FG, transl). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
30. Metchnikoff E. 1968. Lectures on the Comparative Pathology of Inflammation (Starling FA, Starling, EH, transl). Dover, New York, NY.
31. Seong SY, Matzinger P. 2004. Hydrophobicity: an ancient damage-associated molecular pattern that initiates innate immune responses. Nat Rev Immunol 4:469–478. [PubMed][CrossRef]
32. Pollard JW. 2009. Trophic macrophages in development and disease. Nat Rev Immunol 9:259–270. [PubMed][CrossRef]
33. Tauber AI. 2003. Metchnikoff and the phagocytosis theory. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 4:898–901. [PubMed][CrossRef]
34. Hotamisligil GS, Erbay E. 2008. Nutrient sensing and inflammation in metabolic diseases. Nat Rev Immunol 8:923–934. [PubMed][CrossRef]
35. Efeyan A, Comb WC, Sabatini DM. 2015. Nutrient-sensing mechanisms and pathways. Nature 517:302–310. [PubMed][CrossRef]
36. Shi H, Kokoeva MV, Inouye K, Tzameli I, Yin H, Flier JS. 2006. TLR4 links innate immunity and fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. J Clin Invest 116:3015–3025. [PubMed][CrossRef]
37. Tsukumo DM, Carvalho-Filho MA, Carvalheira JB, Prada PO, Hirabara SM, Schenka AA, Araújo EP, Vassallo J, Curi R, Velloso LA, Saad MJ. 2007. Loss-of-function mutation in Toll-like receptor 4 prevents diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Diabetes 56:1986–1998. [PubMed][CrossRef]
38. Davis JE, Gabler NK, Walker-Daniels J, Spurlock ME. 2008. Tlr-4 deficiency selectively protects against obesity induced by diets high in saturated fat. Obesity (Silver Spring) 16:1248–1255. [PubMed][CrossRef]
39. Ajuwon KM, Spurlock ME. 2005. Palmitate activates the NF-κB transcription factor and induces IL-6 and TNFα expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. J Nutr 135:1841–1846. [PubMed]
40. Akira S, Uematsu S, Takeuchi O. 2006. Pathogen recognition and innate immunity. Cell 124:783–801. [PubMed][CrossRef]
41. Khazen W, M’bika JP, Tomkiewicz C, Benelli C, Chany C, Achour A, Forest C. 2005. Expression of macrophage-selective markers in human and rodent adipocytes. FEBS Lett 579:5631–5634. [PubMed][CrossRef]
42. Chung S, Lapoint K, Martinez K, Kennedy A, Boysen Sandberg M, McIntosh MK. 2006. Preadipocytes mediate lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and insulin resistance in primary cultures of newly differentiated human adipocytes. Endocrinology 147:5340–5351. [PubMed][CrossRef]
43. Levine B, Mizushima N, Virgin HW. 2011. Autophagy in immunity and inflammation. Nature 469:323–335. [PubMed][CrossRef]
44. Arnold G. 1909. Intra-cellular and general digestive processes in Planariae. Quart J Micro Sci 54:207.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
2016-04-22
2021-01-27

Abstract:

Since the ability of some cells to engulf particulate material was observed before Metchnikoff, he did not “discover” phagocytosis, as is sometimes mentioned in textbooks. Rather, he assigned to particle internalization the role of defending the host against noxious stimuli, which represented a new function relative to the previously recognized task of intracellular digestion. With this proposal, Metchnikoff built the conceptual framework within which immunity could finally be seen as an active host function triggered by noxious stimuli. In this sense, Metchnikoff can be rightly regarded as the father of all immunological sciences and not only of innate immunity or myeloid cell biology. Moreover, the recognition properties of his phagocyte fit surprisingly well with recent discoveries and modern models of immune sensing. For example, rather than assigning to immune recognition exclusively the function of eliminating nonself components (as others did after him), Metchnikoff viewed phagocytes as homeostatic agents capable of monitoring the internal environment and promoting tissue remodeling, thereby continuously defining the identity of the organism. No doubt, Metchnikoff’s life and creativity can provide, still today, a rich source of inspiration.

Highlighted Text: Show | Hide
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015.html?itemId=/content/journal/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

Figures

The Phagocyte, Metchnikoff, and the Foundation of Immunology
[com.pub2web.rdf.cci.facet.ContentItem[id=http://asm.metastore.ingenta.com/content/author/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-1,webId=/content/author/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-1,properties={foaf_givenname=Giuseppe, foaf_name=Giuseppe Teti, foaf_surname=Teti, pub_isAffiliatedWith=[com.pub2web.rdf.cci.facet.ContentItem[id=http://asm.metastore.ingenta.com/content/affiliation/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-aff1]]}], com.pub2web.rdf.cci.facet.ContentItem[id=http://asm.metastore.ingenta.com/content/author/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-2,webId=/content/author/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-2,properties={foaf_givenname=Carmelo, foaf_name=Carmelo Biondo, foaf_surname=Biondo, pub_isAffiliatedWith=[com.pub2web.rdf.cci.facet.ContentItem[id=http://asm.metastore.ingenta.com/content/affiliation/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-aff2]]}], com.pub2web.rdf.cci.facet.ContentItem[id=http://asm.metastore.ingenta.com/content/author/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-3,webId=/content/author/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-3,properties={foaf_givenname=Concetta, foaf_name=Concetta Beninati, foaf_surname=Beninati, pub_isAffiliatedWith=[com.pub2web.rdf.cci.facet.ContentItem[id=http://asm.metastore.ingenta.com/content/affiliation/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015-aff3]]}]]
Citation: Teti G, Biondo C, Beninati C. 2016. The phagocyte, metchnikoff, and the foundation of immunology. microbiolspec 4(2): doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig1
FIGURE 1

Metchnikoff’s parents. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig1_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig1.gif
Image of FIGURE 1

Click to view

FIGURE 1

Metchnikoff’s parents. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig2
FIGURE 2

Olga Metchnikoff. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig2_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig2.gif
Image of FIGURE 2

Click to view

FIGURE 2

Olga Metchnikoff. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig3
FIGURE 3

Elie and Olga Metchnikoff. Reproduced from reference 15 , with permission.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig3_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig3.gif
Image of FIGURE 3

Click to view

FIGURE 3

Elie and Olga Metchnikoff. Reproduced from reference 15 , with permission.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig4
FIGURE 4

Columnar cells from a flatworm showing intracellular digestion in planariae. Reproduced from reference 44 .

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig4_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig4.gif
Image of FIGURE 4

Click to view

FIGURE 4

Columnar cells from a flatworm showing intracellular digestion in planariae. Reproduced from reference 44 .

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig5
FIGURE 5

Elie Metchnikoff at 46 years of age. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig5_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig5.gif
Image of FIGURE 5

Click to view

FIGURE 5

Elie Metchnikoff at 46 years of age. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig6
FIGURE 6

Elie Metchnikoff and Alexandre Besredka, Institut Pasteur, 1914. Besredka was a medical doctor from Odessa who collaborated with Metchnikoff at the Institut Pasteur from 1897. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig6_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig6.gif
Image of FIGURE 6

Click to view

FIGURE 6

Elie Metchnikoff and Alexandre Besredka, Institut Pasteur, 1914. Besredka was a medical doctor from Odessa who collaborated with Metchnikoff at the Institut Pasteur from 1897. Reproduced from reference 10 , with permission.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig7
FIGURE 7

Elie Metchnikoff portrait painted by Olga. Reproduced from reference 15 .

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig7_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig7.gif
Image of FIGURE 7

Click to view

FIGURE 7

Elie Metchnikoff portrait painted by Olga. Reproduced from reference 15 .

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig8
FIGURE 8

Robert Koch visiting the Institut Pasteur, accompanied by Elie Metchnikoff (1904). Reproduced from reference 15 , with permission.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig8_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig8.gif
Image of FIGURE 8

Click to view

FIGURE 8

Robert Koch visiting the Institut Pasteur, accompanied by Elie Metchnikoff (1904). Reproduced from reference 15 , with permission.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint
/content/microbiolspec/10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015.fig9
FIGURE 9

Milestones in the life of Elie Metchnikoff.

microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig9_thmb.gif
microbiolspec/4/2/MCHD-0009-2015-fig9.gif
Image of FIGURE 9

Click to view

FIGURE 9

Milestones in the life of Elie Metchnikoff.

Source: microbiolspec April 2016 vol. 4 no. 2 doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.MCHD-0009-2015
Permissions and Reprints Request Permissions
Download as Powerpoint

Supplemental Material

No supplementary material available for this content.

Back to top
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Please check the format of the address you have entered.
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error