Philosophy_of_Immunology_by_Thomas_Pradeu_UserUpload.Net

first situation corresponds to a dysfunctional immune system. An organism,
either structurally or provisionally (e.g., after a treatment with immunosuppres-
sive drugs), can have a defective immune system (e.g., a deficit in effector
T cells, or a disequilibrium in the respective numbers of its inflammatory and
regulatory macrophages–or, more specifically, of its macrophages distributed
along the inflammatory to“alternatively activated”spectrum (Gordon 2003;
Wynn et al. 2013)). Such abnormalities can contribute to explain the triggering
of cancer, and they could be targeted by a number of therapies, which precisely
aim at correcting these immune defects.
In the second situation, however, the immune system acts normally and
immune-mediated decohesion is due to an abnormal context. Pathogens,

Immune System

Controls

Tissue Organization

Decohesion can concern all these mechanisms

Maintains

chronic elements

Eleminates or contains

abnormal cells

Repairs

Figure 4.3 A richer view of immune-mediated cohesion and immune-
mediated decohesion in cancer.In this view, the immune system controls
tissue organization and, together, the immune system and the local tissue can
exert a variety of cohesion-promoting activities, including the elimination of
abnormal cells, but also the containment of abnormal cells, the maintenance of
chronic elements, and tissue repair. All these activities (not just elimination), in
pathological conditions, can promote decohesion of the organism. (Figure
drawn by Wiebke Bretting).

40 Elements in the Philosophy of Biology