What is the immunome?

Advances in Immunology have led to the understanding that the immune system is not only involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases but also plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis and tissue repair. It mediates interactions between the organism and dietary as well as environmental antigens, supports pregnancy, and enables coexistence with the microbiota, highlighting its role as an integrative system of the body.

This review examines the term immunome in both narrow and broad senses, describes key achievements of the Human Immunome Project, and discusses the advantages of this approach for studying the immune system. Initially, the term immunome referred to the repertoire of rearranged antibody genes, as well as T- and B-cell antigen receptors (TCR and BCR). The AIRR-seq technology has been developed for the collection and analysis of adaptive immune receptor repertoires. Knowledge of TCR and BCR repertoires can be applied to the development of modern vaccines against highly dangerous pathogens, rapid vaccine design in response to emerging pathogens, and the creation of personalized vaccines for elderly individuals and specific patient groups. An example of successful application of immunome research in the narrow sense is the development of a Russian drug for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. With substantial advances in immunology and biotechnology, the concept of the immunome has expanded. In its broader definition, the immunome includes not only immunocompetent cells, their receptors, and the molecules they produce, but also nonimmune cells and molecules involved in regulating immune responses, as well as the microenvironment in which immune reactions occur. Studies identifying changes in immune cell phenotypes, receptors, transcripts, cytokines, and their associations with disease activity or subtype provide valuable insights. However, their fragmented nature complicates the identification of the pathogenic role of individual factors.

Comprehensive analysis of the immunome facilitates the understanding of immunopathogenesis, the discovery of biomarkers for various diseases, patient stratification, and personalized therapy selection. The extreme complexity of the immunome and its internal interactions necessitates the use of advanced mathematical modeling, bioinformatics, computational tools, and rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies.