Development of humoral and cellular immunity in man.

Recent studies have radically changed our views of the development of acquired immunity during gestation and perinatal life. It is now apparent that there are considerable differences in the way the immune response matures in different species (Sterzl and Silverstein, 1967; Adinolfi and Wood, 1969; Solomon, 1971). In mice and rats immune reactions are relatively immature even in the newborn. In the lamb, on the other hand, some degree of immunological competence is achieved about two-thirds of the way through fetal life (Silverstein and Prendergast, 1970). In man, too, both humoral and cellular immunity are well developed before birth.