Immunological priming

Immunological priming is the physiological process by which the adaptive immune system undergoes its first encounter with a specific antigen, resulting in the activation and differentiation of naive T and B lymphocytes into effector and memory cells (Janeway et al., 2001). This process is not a single molecular target but rather a complex cellular orchestration involving antigen-presenting cells (APCs), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, and co-stimulatory signals (Murphy & Weaver, 2016). Priming is the foundational principle of vaccinology, where a controlled exposure to a pathogen's components prepares the immune system for future challenges (Pollard & Bijker, 2021). In oncology, therapeutic strategies aim to prime the immune system against tumor-associated antigens to overcome immune evasion (Chen & Mellman, 2013). While essential for protection against infection, improper priming can lead to pathological states such as chronic inflammation, allergies, or autoimmune disorders (Abbas et al., 2018).

Other names

Immunological primingImmune primingAntigenic primingT-cell primingB-cell priming

Induction of a primary adaptive immune response through the activation and clonal expansion of naive lymphocytes by antigen-presenting cells (Janeway et al., 2001).