Immune System Questions?
Filed in Category Immune System Questions
Hi I have My Biology Final soon and i am really confused about the immune system.
1. What are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line of immunity?
2. What exactly do the T Cells and B Cells do?
3. Can you describe the specific/non specific responses?
4. What Exactly do the Antigens and Anti bodies do
5.What are Macrophages and the Inflammatory Response?
If i can get a response it would be really helpfull
2 Comments so far
1st line: Inflamation, 2nd line: white blood cells (Lymphocytes) attack bacteria (dead bacteria and dead lymphocytes = puss), 3rd line: antibodies made specifically to the invading organism/virus.
Lymphocytes cannot “eat” virus, these can only be destroyed by antibodies, made by T cells.
Non-specific response: Inflamation (you will get inflamation anytime the 1st barrier to infection is broken (skin/membranes) due to release of histomines. Specific response is to the specific invader…be it staph, strep, etc.
Antigen: any foreign protein (non-self) that is present within the body due to infection
Antibody: The response of T-cells to infection is to produce a protein that is exactly opposite the protein of the antigen…fits like a glove and stops any action of the antigen.
Macrophages destroy invading micro organisms (non-viral) by surrounding and devouring them. There is a battle set up between the Macrophage and the invader…whoever can produce the most “killing” will win. Obviously, the host’s macrophages do not always win the battle. BUT with outside help (antibiotics), the “war” is greatly helped and strewed to the host’s side.
Antigens cause an inflamation response, destroy cells by attacking the cell membrane…any time a cell membrane is broken, histomines are released that will, in turn, destroy neighboring cells so as to deprive the invader of “food.” Antibodies neutralize antigens, but antibodies are very specific to each antigen.
Hope this helps!
Immune System
1. 1st line of immunity – The body’s physical barrier
2nd line of Defense – Your Innate Immunity( genetically determined, present at birth with no relationship to previous exposure to antigen involvement). For ex: AIDS or other conditions that depress all aspects of specific resistance is broken down in innate immunity; and Acquired Immunity (not present at birth and is required when exposed to an antigen) and can be active or passive.
2. T-cells are helper cells. Vital to the immune system and play a role in the initiation, maintenance and control of the immune system. Remember that there are three types of T-cells.
B- cells help produce antibodies. Our defense against antigens and pathogenic organisms in body fluids.
3. Specific Responses protect against particular threats. For ex: a specific defense may protect us against one infection while ignoring another bacteria or virus.
Non-specific Responses do not discriminate between one threat or another. This defense is present at birth and include physical barriers, phagocytic cells, immunological surveillance, interferons, complement, inflammation, and fever.
4. Antigens – substance capable of inducing the production of antibodies.
Antibodies – A globular protein produced by plasma cells that will bind to specific antigens and promote their destruction or removal from the body.
5. Macrophages are large active phagocytic cells. An active macrophage may respond to a pathogen in several different ways. It may engulf a pathogen or other foreign object and destroy it. It may bind or remove a pathogen from the interstitial fluid and need assistant by other cells. It may destroy it target by releasing toxic chemical.
Inflammatory Response – local response to injury or infection that is directed at the tissue level. It restricts the spread of the injury as well as the spread of infection.
Hope this helps and good luck.