Immune System

A truly amazing constellation of responses to attacks from outside the body is what we call Immune system. This system is effective most of the time. It has many facets which can change to optimize the response to the unwanted intrusions.

An antigen is a substance which elicits an immune response from virus to a silver. The dual nature of immune system is a wonder. The system has self and non-self recognition. It works differently in general and specific conditions, it give different response in different situation.

The parts of immune system are

1) Antigen specific which works against particular antigens

2) Systematic which works throughout the body

3) Memory which recognizes and attacks stronger to the same antigen next time.

Self non-self recognition is achieved by major histocompatibility complex in every cell. If any cell is not displaying this marker is treated as non-self and hence attacked. Protein contents undigested are also treated as antigens. This shows the effectiveness of this process.

Sometimes this process doesn't work and immune system attacks self cells. Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, some forms of arthritis and diabetes are the examples.

In some cases immune response to innocuous substances is not appropriate. The substance that elicits the response is called an allergen, and this is the case of allergies.

We are born with the innate immunity system. It is nonspecific. All antigens are attacked equally. It is genetically based and passed on to our next generation.

The first and most important barrier of the immune system is the Skin. The skin can not be damaged by most organisms unless it already has an opening by way of a nick, scratch or cut. The next thing is any foreign object is expelled by tiny hair movement in upward motion and then coughing and sneezing abruptly eject both living and nonliving things from respiratory system. Flushing action of tears, saliva, urine also force out pathogens.

Many microorganisms are trapped in sticky mucus in respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Skin secretions increase bacterial growth. Hair follicles secret sebum that contains lactic acid which inhibits the growth of some pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Saliva, tears, nasal secretions and perspiration has lysozyme, an enzyme that destroys gram positive bacterial cell walls causing cell lysis.

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