Apoptosis in Immunology

Apoptosis is now recognised as the mechanism by which unwanted cells are tidily eliminated with no messy consequences such as inflammation. This is nowhere more important than in the immune system which is typified by the overproduction of all sorts of cells-particularly self-reactive lymphocytes-which would be a severe embarrassment to the organism if not removed. Autoimmunity and cancer are the consequences of not having enough apoptosis. Apoptotic mechanisms also play a role in killing of target cells by immune effector cells, as for example cytotoxic T cells. A volume dealing with apoptosis and immunity is therefore opportune. This book is a compilation of invited papers by eminent authors who have written ably on the nature of apoptosis in immunology. More accurately, apoptosis in lymphocytes as there is in fact little about the many interesting non-lymphocytic cells of the immune system, or other related haematopoietic cells. There is, in addition, some chapters on apoptosis in AIDS and so we see that this book is somewhat of a pot pourri of topics, all interesting, but neither providing nor presumably aiming to provide a comprehensive coverage. I do not see, for example, substantial sections on apoptosis in cytotoxic cell killing nor is material gathered together on apoptosis induced via the Fas/tumour necrosis factor receptor mediated pathways, although there are many scattered references to these. The value of such a book as this is rather that you might hope to find some interesting information that would otherwise have eluded you, and in this I for one was not disappointed. For example, I found there is evidence for proteases and the ubiquitin pathway in apoptosis, and I learned that p53 is not necessary for apoptosis induced by antiCD4 in peripheral T cells. There is of course much solid worth here and some good writing. I particularly valued the chapter by Boise et al with its succinct description of Bcl-2like proteins; that by Harrison et al, introducing the concept of the undead cell; and the good account given by Kabelitz et al of This book has 11 chapters, which might be apoptosis induced via the TCR. viewed as representing three main sections. On the whole, all the main points about Firstly, the principles of PCR; chapter 1 deals the stimuli and pathways of apoptosis, at least with how the method works and gives an in lymphoid cells, are covered in this book, overview of its applications, with chapter 2 and certainly for an immunologist it is a useful describing quantitative PCR. The second source book. However, this book has the 'section', encompassing applications in faults of its sort, repetition, as each author microbiology, is covered by chapters 3 to 6. introduces the topic afresh, and yet paraThe remaining chapters deal with apdoxically the lack of background material to plications of PCR in the fields of inherited put into context the specialist contributions. diseases and cancer. Clearly, it is aimed at a scientist who is already Some potential buyers might think that the pretty knowledgable and is looking for topbook is not specialised enough; why should up information. Not for the tyro. a haematologist, for instance, be interested in the diagnosis of Toxoplasma? This attitude A MORRIS would be regrettable. It should be of interest to know what one's colleagues down the corridor are doing. More importantly, cross-fertilisation of ideas is a valuable process. After PCR Applications in Pathology. Prinall, there is an apparently wider gap between ciples and Practice. Latchman D, ed. (Pp basic molecular biology and pathology than 269; £29.50.) Oxford Medical Publications, there is between each of the disciplines of 1995. ISBN 0-19-854354. pathology, but did not basic molecularbiology pioneer PCR in the first place? Every once in a while, a fundamentally inThe book, although of modest size, does novative technique appears that is not only cover a fairly wide range of material. Some of clever but also has a significant, even huge, the chapters on microbiological applications impact on scientific progress. Such it was even include protocols for diagnostic tests. with DNA sequencing and such it is with the Thus, although not intended as a laboratory PCR. This technique is elegant and sensitive manual, this at least gives readers a real feel and has been adopted quickly by biological for the working procedures of the technique scientists as one of their basic tools. PCR is and, moreover, an opportunity to have a go inevitably finding its way into the pathology themselves. laboratory. Just as inevitably, books devoted What about omissions? I was surprised that to the applications of PCR in pathology were several major applications were not covered destined to appear and this one, although not more fully. Firstly, nested PCR is referred to fully comprehensive in its scope, addresses briefly in one or two places but the sigsome of the method's applications in the pracnificance of this variation would be lost on tice of clinical pathology, the uninitiated. I should have thought nested The book's editor, in the preface, laments PCR warranted a more detailed description, the delay in PCR being adopted by pathappropriately in chapter 1. Secondly, there is ologists, compared with its rapid application a solitary short paragraph (chapter 1, page by basic scientists. This he attributes to the 11) devoted to HLA typing. This is certainly technique being ". . . seen as a complex and one area where PCR has had a major clinical difficult procedure beyond the scope of rouimpact, having to date all but replaced serotine diagnostic laboratories". He may be right, iogical methods. Thirdly, applications for the but I suspect he underestimates his colleagues histopathologist seem to have been neglected; in pathology, who strike me as being realthough the use of in situ PCR in viral markably alert in recognising and trying new diagnosis is dealt with in chapter 4, there is methods, despite their progressively burno attempt to address its uses for detecting geoning routine commitments. Nevertheless, human DNA sequences. Perhaps these areas many clinical laboratory staff have relatively could be included in future editions, which little time to evaluate and tinker with a must be contemplated in view of the assured method, to make its potential and drawbacks progress of this technique in pathology. apparent, as well as ensuring user-friendIn summary, this book is readable and liness. The lag in a technique being adopted should be interesting and useful to those in by routine clinical laboratories is probably, the various disciplines of pathology who wish therefore, ineluctable. Textbooks assembling to understand the potential of PCR. I should, the experiences of those who are already faoverall, be pleased to have it on my own miliar with a technique can clearly save valubookshelf, where indeed it now is. able time and foster new ideas. D BURNETT