Sarah Bennett
The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells, and proteins that work together to protect the body from harmful foreign invaders, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. It also helps to protect against environmental pollutants and cancerous cells. The immune system has two main parts: the innate immune system, which provides a general defense against harmful substances and germs, and the adaptive immune system, which uses antibodies to specifically fight germs the body has previously encountered. White blood cells, including lymphocytes and leukocytes, play a crucial role in both systems, detecting, attacking, and eliminating pathogens. When functioning properly, the immune system keeps a record of every defeated germ, allowing it to quickly recognize and destroy the microbe if it enters the body again.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Components | White blood cells, antibodies, lymphocytes, phagocytes, T cells, B cells, bone marrow, spleen, thymus, skin, mucous, lungs, lymphatic system, lymph nodes, adaptive immune system, innate immune system |
| Function | Detects, responds to, and eliminates pathogens and transforms cells |
| Goal | Protects the body from infection, cancer, and other conditions |
| Protection | Defends against disease-causing microorganisms, germs, harmful substances, bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, cancer cells, environmental pollutants, cellular problems in the body |
| Abnormalities | Allergies, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, allergic diseases |
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What You'll Learn
White blood cells
When white blood cells detect an antigen, they respond by sending out signals and launching an immune attack. There are two main types of leukocytes: phagocytes and lymphocytes. Phagocytes engulf, break down, and destroy the invaders. Lymphocytes can be further divided into B lymphocytes (B-cells) and T lymphocytes (T-cells). B-cells create antibodies, which attach to antigens and signal other parts of the immune system to attack and destroy the invaders. T-cells then kill the pathogens.
A low white blood cell count can make a person more susceptible to infections, while a high count may indicate an infection or an underlying medical condition.
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Antibodies
When the body encounters a foreign substance, known as an antigen, B cells spring into action. Antigens include the proteins on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, as well as toxins, chemicals, and other substances that originate outside the body. Once the body comes into contact with an antigen, it stores information about it, including how to combat it. This is known as immunological memory.
There are five main antibody classes produced by the body: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE. Each class has specific functions and roles in protecting the body from different types of antigens. For example, IgM is the first antibody produced in response to an infection, while IgG is the most abundant antibody in the serum, providing essential protection against toxins and bacteria.
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Vaccines
When a vaccine is administered, it triggers an immune response. The body's immune system identifies the antigen as foreign and activates immune cells, specifically B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells), to produce antibodies. B-cells produce antibodies that fight off infection, while T-cells recognize and kill infected cells, preventing the spread of infection. This initial immune response may cause mild symptoms, such as fever or tiredness, as the body acts as if it is fighting off a mild form of the disease.
The development of tailored immunity takes time, typically several weeks, and sometimes additional vaccine doses are needed to strengthen the immune response. Once immunity is established, the body can quickly recognize and respond to the disease-causing organism if encountered in the future. This memory of the pathogen ensures that the body can mount a rapid and effective defence, significantly reducing the risk of becoming seriously ill or spreading the disease to others.
It is important to note that while vaccines provide strong protection, they do not guarantee complete immunity. Even vaccinated individuals can sometimes get infected, but they are far less likely to experience severe illness or death compared to unvaccinated individuals. Additionally, the effectiveness of vaccines can vary depending on the specific disease and the technology used in their development, such as mRNA vaccines, which have revolutionized the field of vaccinology.
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Cancer
The immune system is a collection of reactions and responses that the body makes to damaged cells or infection. It protects the body against illness and infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
The immune system can help fight cancer. However, cancer cells are the body's own cells that have gone rogue, and the immune system may not always recognize them as a threat. When cancer cells thrive, it is often because they:
- Evade or hide from immune cells using signals that healthy cells may use
- Shut down immune cells and sometimes use them to proliferate
- Overwhelm or exhaust the immune system with their sheer numbers and rapid growth
Scientists are trying to understand why the immune system sometimes fails to fight cancer. One hypothesis is that cancer cells may evade detection by using signals that healthy cells use. Another hypothesis is that the immune system is better designed to fight foreign cells that invade the body from the outside, rather than the body's own cells.
Certain cancer treatments can temporarily weaken the immune system. by causing a drop in the number of white blood cells produced in the bone marrow. For example, chemotherapy can reduce the number of neutrophils in the body, making it harder to fight infections.
Immunotherapy is a form of medical treatment that activates the immune system to help fight cancer. Researchers are also creating vaccines that may teach the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer before it takes hold or comes back.
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Autoimmune diseases
A healthy immune system is essential for protecting the body from harmful substances, germs, and cell changes that could lead to illness. It is comprised of various organs, cells, and proteins that work together to defend against disease-causing microorganisms. However, sometimes the immune system malfunctions and mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells, tissues, and organs. This is known as an autoimmune disease.
The symptoms of autoimmune diseases can vary depending on the part of the body affected. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are signs of inflammation. These symptoms can come and go, with periods of flare-ups followed by remission when symptoms improve or disappear for a time. Autoimmune diseases can be challenging to diagnose, as many share similar symptoms with other illnesses, and there may not be specific tests available for each disease. Doctors often need a detailed family history and careful tracking of symptoms to make a diagnosis.
The exact causes of autoimmune diseases are not fully understood, but they are believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Certain genes may increase the likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases, and they tend to run in families. Environmental triggers, such as viruses, chemicals, and exposure to sunlight, may also play a role in the development of these diseases. Additionally, women are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases than men, and having one autoimmune disease increases the chances of developing another.
Treatment for autoimmune diseases typically aims to suppress the overactive immune response and manage symptoms. Corticosteroids and other medications may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and provide relief. In some cases, lifelong treatment is necessary to control the disease and prevent life-threatening complications.
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Frequently asked questions
The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells and proteins that defends the body against infection, whilst protecting the body’s own cells.
The immune system detects, responds to, and eliminates pathogens and transforms cells. It is composed of two broad types of cellular defences: the innate immune response and the adaptive immune response. The innate immune response is your first line of defence against infectious invaders. The adaptive immune system makes antibodies and uses them to specifically fight certain germs that the body has previously come into contact with.
The main components of the immune system are white blood cells, antibodies, and lymphocytes. White blood cells patrol the blood and tissues in search of intruders. When they detect a foreign substance, they send out signals and launch an immune attack. Antibodies protect the body from invaders by binding to them and initiating their destruction. Lymphocytes are a certain type of white blood cell that fights infection.
