In classical terms, the immune system has been viewed as the host’s defense system. Tasked with recognizing foreign elements such as pathogens along with mutations of proteins encoded by self-tissue, the immune system’s teleological purpose has been assumed to be restricted to returning a damaged or threatened state to a functional resting state. However, more recently the community has realized that the immune system’s function extends beyond this remit and includes a contribution to maintain the normal function of organs and tissues in the absence of perturbations. This Cell Symposium will present insights into this conceptual space. Please join us for a fresh perspective on the multifaceted role of immune function.

Sessions include:

• Immune-function regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis
• Immune-function regulation of metabolic organ and tissue homeostasis
• Immune-function regulations of central and peripheral nervous-system homeostasis
• Immune-function regulation of intestinal homeostasis
• Immune-function regulation of gestation, parturition, and the effect of an aged immune system on homeostasis