The goal of the International Immune-Mediated Diseases: From Theory to Therapy (IMD) Congress is to bring the best world immunologists and clinicians to Moscow to participate in plenary sessions, symposia and educational workshops designed to expose basic and clinical immunologist as well as practicing clinicians to the newest developments in the field. First IMD Congress consisted of 8 Plenary Sessions, 40 Symposia and 25 Workshops. The meeting attracted almost 2000 participants and speakers from 15 countries. After this great success of the First IMD Congress, the Organizing Committee decided to convene the meeting every other year and the Second International IMD Congress was planned for September 2007. Special attention will be given to innovative therapeutic modalities, allergy and asthma, immunodeficiency, tumor and transplant immunology, immunotherapy and vaccines, HIV and infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, immunomonitoring and immunodiagnostics.

This volume includes contributions from the speakers of the Second IMD Congress (September 10-15, 2007; Moscow, Russia) who are eager to share some of the academic and clinical enthusiasm that defines the IMD meetings.

Proceedings from the 2nd International Congress of Immune Mediated Diseases to be held in Moscow, Russia on September 10-15, 2007

Inhalt
Immune-Mediated Diseases.- Immune-Mediated Diseases: Where Do We Stand?.- Immunodeficiencies: News and Updates.- The Four Most Common Pediatric Immunodeficiencies.- Immune Dysregulation, Polyendocrinopathy, Enteropathy, X-Linked Inheritance: Model for Autoaggression.- DiGeorge Syndrome/Velocardiofacial Syndrome: The Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.- Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiencies: Molecular Basis, Clinical Findings, and Therapeutic Options.- Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome.- Neutrophil Activity in Chronic Granulomatous Disease.- Mycobacterial Infections in Primary Immunodeficiency Patients.- Allergy and Autoimmunity: Prevention or Treatment?.- SLE 1, 2, 3Genetic Dissection of Lupus.- Network of Myeloid and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Atopic Dermatitis.- Peptide-Based Therapy in Lupus: Promising Data.- Reduced Number and Function of CD4+ CD25 high FoxP3 + Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.- Tumor Immunity in New Dimensions.- Role of Altered Expression of HLA Class I Molecules in Cancer Progression.- Intrathymic Selection: New Insight into Tumor Immunology.- Crosstalk Between Apoptosis and Antioxidants in Melanoma Vasculogenic Mimicry.- Immunological Role of Dendritic Cells in Cervical Cancer.- Sensitizing Tumor Cells to Immune-Mediated Cytotoxicity.- Inhibition of Dendritic Cell Generation and Function by Serum from Prostate Cancer Patients: Correlation with Serum-Free PSA.- Immunomodulators.- Alarmins Initiate Host Defense.- Gangliosides as Immunomodulators.- Functional Changes of Macrophages Induced by Dimeric Glycosaminylmuramyl Pentapeptide.- New Insights in Immune Regulation.- Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells.- The Lytic NK Cell Immunological Synapse and Sequential Steps in Its Formation.- Infective, Neoplastic, and HomeostaticSequelae of the Loss of Perforin Function in Humans.- Natural Killer T (NKT) Cell Subsets in Chlamydial Infections.- Memory T Cells in Allograft Rejection.- Differences in Dendritic Cell Activation and Distribution After Intravenous, Intraperitoneal, and Subcutaneous Injection of Lymphoma Cells in Mice.- Role of IL-1-Mediated Inflammation in Tumor Angiogenesis.- News in Immunodiagnostics and Immunomonitoring.- New Approaches for Monitoring CTL Activity in Clinical Trials.- Serum Levels of Soluble HLA and IL-2R Molecules in Patients with Urogenital Chlamydia Infection.- Evaluation of Suspected Immunodeficiency.- Frequently Ill Children.- Evaluation of Bactericidal Activity of Human Biological Fluids by Flow Cytofluorimetry.- Immunotherapy and Vaccines.- Rational Development of Antigen-Specific Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes.- Interleukin-7 Immunotherapy.- Transmembrane Interactions as Immunotherapeutic Targets: Lessons from Viral Pathogenesis.- Tumor Cell Vaccines.- T Cell Tolerance to Tumors and Cancer Immunotherapy.- Herpes Simplex Virus: Treatment with Antimicrobial Peptides.- Vaccine Containing Natural TLR Ligands Protects from Salmonella typhimurium Infection in Mice and Acute Respiratory Infections in Children.- Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Melanoma Patients Treated with Dendritic Cell Vaccines.- Cell Technologies in Immunotherapy of Cancer.- Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid-Based Drugs.- Micro- and Nanoparticle-Based Vaccines for Hepatitis B.- Mast Cells, T Cells, and Inhibition by Luteolin: Implications for the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.