|
|
Home
>
Articles on Health
>
Meet Your Immune System
Meet Your Immune System
For the immune system,
life is hard. It is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week,
52-weeks-a-year battle against a well-equipped and persistent
army trying to harm your health. The immune system never rests
and must always be on red alert. It takes no
furloughs.
The soldiers who make up the immune system
come from and are found in a diverse collection of organs.
Although the components, when taken together, weigh only about
two pounds (900 g), these two pounds are integral in keeping
the scale of good health balanced.
The sentries
The largest
and most easily seen component of the immune system is the
skin. The skin is a physical barrier against pathogens,
harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and also a chemical
barrier: the skin’s natural acidity is a poor environment for
invaders.
The mucous membranes are the sentries at the
gates of our body: the openings of the eyes, sinuses, mouth,
and so on. They secrete mucus, which both cleans away and
traps pathogens. If bacteria should progress through the mouth
or nose and into the stomach, it is still difficult for them
to get into the blood. They must survive the stomach, which to
them is a poisonous torture chamber of acids and digestive
enzymes.
Within the gates
When a pathogen breaches a gate and enters
the body, other components of the immune system white blood
cells go to work. One type of white blood cell, a phagocyte,
is like the skin in that it counters all invaders. Other types
of white blood cells, in the class known as lymphocytes, are
programmed to go after only certain pathogens. The various
types of white blood cells all work in different ways, but
they all need each other to complete the job of protecting the
body.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes ("cell eaters") are
large white blood cells that engulf and digest pathogens. An
important type of phagocyte is monocytes, which circulate
throughout the body looking for trouble looking for pathogens.
When monocytes get into tissue, they develop into macrophages
("big eaters"). Macrophages are positioned throughout body
tissue and are often specialized: you might say some have an
appetite for pathogens found in the lungs, while others prefer
the taste of those found in the kidneys. Macrophages also are
the "sweepers" of the body, as they dispose of worn out
cells.
Other phagocytes are granulocytes. Of these,
mast cells are found in the tissue, and neutrophils,
eosinophils, and basophils are found in the
blood.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are small white
blood cells that travel through the lymph system. They are not
able to attack just any pathogen, as phagocytes are. They are
programmed to go after specific pathogens. They also bear the
major responsibility for the actions of the immune
system.
The two major classes of lymphocytes are B
cells, which reach maturity in the bone, and Tcells, which
reach maturity in the thymus. Both of these recognize specific
pathogens.
B cells work by producing, transporting, and
secreting antibodies. Upon meeting a pathogen, B cells begin
dividing and releasing antibodies, which seek out and destroy
the pathogen. Immune system components known as "complements"
also aid the antibodies in destroying pathogens.
Each B
cell makes one specific antibody for one specific pathogen. If
a B cell meets another pathogen, nothing can be done. One type
of T cell, a helper T cell, must be involved for a B cell to
destroy pathogens.
T cells can help B cells or other T
cells, or directly attack pathogens. When they directly attack
the pathogen, they are known as cytotoxic T cells. Another
important T cell is the natural killer (NK). These T cells are
similar to phagocytes in that they do not need to recognize a
pathogen to swing into action. They are important in targeting
tumor cells.
There are also suppressor T cells, which
act as the referee in the battle. When the immune system has
won a battle, the suppressor T cells call off the
troops.
Other
PlayersBone marrow: The soft tissue in the
center of bones cells, including white blood
cells.
Thymus: The thymus fosters development of
T cells.
Lymphatic vessels: The lymphatic vessels are
arteries that carry white blood cells throughout the
body.
Lymphatic nodes and the spleen: The nodes and
spleen are both "stopping pints" for white blood
cells.
|
|
If you have any questions, please call us at
1-800-627-4689 or send an email to
info@aimthisway.com
AIM This Way
19 Pemberton Street
Cambridge, MA
02140
Product prices and charges are subject to change without notice.
AIM products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, mitigate or prevent a disease or illness. Results may vary per person.
|
|
