Humoral immunity

The immune system protects the human body from parasites, viruses, pathogens, toxic products of their vital activity and not only. It is necessary to distinguish between the resistance of the organism to infections of the congenital type (nonspecific) from the acquired type (specific). Congenital protection against bacteria is due to heredity. Mechanisms of nonspecific (or innate) immunity to many pathogenic factors are phagocytosis and inflammatory process.

Specific immunity is an accurate recognition system of the body. Its action is aimed at reading information from pathogenic aggressors - antigens, and memorizing them. Intracellular acquired resistance to infections works to protect the internal space of cells. Humoral immunity Is carried out in extracellular fluids.

First, infecting the body with protective cells, macrophages that freely migrate into the intercellular fluid, bind to the antigen, identify it. To the induction of the protective reaction, auxiliary T-helper cells are connected and B-lymphocytes activate. Soon, the lymphocytes mutate, transform into plasma cells that produce specific antibodies. This is how the acquired humoral immune response is formed with the formation of specific memory cells that store information about the antigen. When secondary hits of the same type of antigens in the body triggers a powerful response of antibodies, provoking, for example, allergic conditions.

Humoral immunity depends on the ratio of T-helper and T-suppressor formed in the bone marrow, in the optimal 2: 1 variant. This ratio is violated in the AIDS disease to the exact opposite 1: 2, because the T-helper infected with the virus die. Therefore, any infection remains unrecognized, which is the cause of the death of the body.

Classification of antibodies in the intercellular environment of the body

Antigens of the environment are so diverse that to combat them the humoral system is able to produce from 108 different specific antibodies. Many parts of DNA proteins are unique in their structure, they determine the variety of antibodies.

Immunoglobulins of five classes provide a stable protective response to antigens.

1. The class G.

Immunoglobulin class G in the human body is greater than all the rest (up to 18 g per liter). Ig G fight with toxins, bacteria, viruses, are in the blood and lymph.

2. Class A.

Immunoglobulins of class A are serum, those that circulate in the blood, and secretory, in the fluids of the glands. Globular proteins of blood serum are responsible for general immunity. Immunoglobulin secretion provides local protection of the body from infection, toxins, creating a barrier to their mass penetration. Humoral immunity, provided by IgA antibodies, is manifested in acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, and infectious damage to the housing and communal services.

3. The class E.

Immunoglobulins of class E directly participate in the decay of toxins, in the phagocytosis of foreign particles, their adhesion and neutralization, destroy the upper layers of bacterial cells. The content of Ig E in intercellular fluids increases with infectious-type diseases in adults and children. The Ig E group also includes antibodies to erythrocytes of foreign origin.

4. Class D.

Class D immunoglobulins circulate mainly in the membranes of blood plasma cells, but in serum their concentration is relatively small. The function of Ig D proteins is to specify B-lymphocytes with the necessary specialization, they are included in the work of autoimmune processes.

5. The class M.

Immunoglobulins Ig M circulate inside the vessels, are transformed from plasmocytes in cases of primary entry of antigens into the body. The Ig M protein includes potent humoral immunity in bacteremia.