Author Description

The Reticuloendothelial (RE) Society, which is concerned with advancement of knowledge concerning the many diverse functions of RE cells, organizes national and international meetings and publishes a scientific journal. The VIII International Congress of the RE Society was held in Jerusalem, Israel, June 18-23, 1978. The Congress had as its scientific objective a wide range of subjects concerning the RE System, especially as related to macrophage function and interaction with lymphocytes. Emphasis of the Congress was placed on the nature and function of macrophages and other cells of the RE System with reference to immune responses, anti-infectious activity, tumor immunity, autoimmunity, and transplant rejection. The secretion of soluble factors by macrophages and lymphocytes and the mode of action of these factors on other cells was stressed. During the Congress some discussion was entertained concerning the controversy as to what constitutes the "RE System" per se. Some investigators feel that the phagocytic activity of macrophages is the most important aspect of the RE System playing also a major role in many parameters of immunity. Mononuclear phagocytes include tissue macrophages as well as circulating monocytes and their precursors. Although phagocytosis is a major functional activity of these cells, it is only one of several activities. The important role of mononuclear phagocytes and other mononuclear cells in immune responsiveness, - including humoral and cell mediated immunity, specific and nonspecific resistance to microorganisms and tumor cells, as well as homeostatic activities in general - has become the focus of attention of many investigators and served as a focal point for the exchange of scientific information during the Congress. The Congress was immediately preceded by the 6th International Conference on Germinal Centers and Lymphatic Tissues in Immune Reactions being held in Kiel, Germany, June 11-16, 1978. The RES Congress was followed by the 12th International Leukocyte Culture Conference being held in Beersheba, Israel June 25-30, 1978. An attempt was made by the Organizing and Program Committees for the 3 conventions to interrelate the scientific topics planned for presentation. Thus, the RES Congress dealt mainly with macrophage nature and functions whereas the Leukocyte Culture Conference devoted much attention to the role and activities macrophage nature and functions whereas the Leukocyte Culture Conference devoted much attention to the role and activities of lymphocytes. The RES Congress was divided into symposia, contributed papers, and workshop sessions. Five symposia were held during each morning on the following topics: I. Regulatory Functions of the RE System, II. Enzymatic Activities of Macrophages, III. Role of Macrophages in Tumor Activity, IV. Environmental Factors Influencing the RES, and V. Interactions of Macrophages and Lymphocytes in the Immune Response. Each afternoon was devoted to several simultaneous scientific sessions with short papers presented on subjects of current interest to the RE System. Although workshops devoted to particularly important areas of the RE System were useful and well attended, their publication is not included in these volumes because of the priority given to the large number of formal papers selected for their high quality and relevance. These volumes constitute the published records of the proceedings of the Congress, including only the symposia and selected proffered papers. However, the written contributions are not arranged exactly as presented at the Congress but rather they are interspersed according to the central theme of each of the four sections for each volume. The first volume deals with the enzymatic and metabolic activities of RE cells, the immunopharmacology and regulatory functions of the RE System, as well as with environmental factors influencing the latter. The second volume includes papers concerned with immunity and infection, interaction of cells in the RE System and immunomodulation in cancer.