What characteristics are needed for a protein to be a component of immune system - (Mar/03/2006 )

Dear all

I am a mew one in immunology.
If you want to say: this protein is one component of immune defense system, what is the basic characteristics of this protein? Why is it one of immune system?

Thank you very much!

hi
the characteristic of a protein to be called part of the immune system, is to be directly concerned by the IS. Receptor, recognition, or a protein in the subsequent pathways turned-on by antigen.
A more tough charcteristic, is that a knock down (invalidation or silencing) to this protein leads no defective or absence of immune response. But this is tougher (can we actually say "tougher"?) because the involved protein may be a part of an other pathway which may be implies more than the immune response... this protein would belong to the B pathways, necessary for the immune pathway to properly ocurs.

I think it depends on your definition of immune system; whether you refer to innate, adaptive, or both

plasma lipoproteins typically have altered levels in some disease states, right? what do they actually do differently during disease? do their levels just change, or are they actually performing a task?

Yes, lipoproteins can definitely act as anti-microbial molecules. I recently want to suggest a new theory in this field, however, I am a small potato and my English is not good, so I might not be eligible to give such a big theory.

Thanks a lot for your reply.