Second Line Of Defense: Ready for round two?
Components of the second line of defense
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are some of the more common Phagocytes that defend our bodies. Phagocytes engulf foreign bodies and attack them with lysosomes. This destroys the foreign body but can also destroy the phagocyte; however, it is a necessary sacrifice to make to keep the body alive.
Macrophages
When monocytes exit the blood stream they become known as Macrophage; which literally means a ‘Large (macro) Thing That Engulfs (phage)’. Macrophages will typically gather in body tissue, usually connective tissue, lungs, liver, kidneys, brain and bone. (according to VCH ppt 4b)
Dendritic Cells
Dendritic means branching out or shaped like a tree. This shape helps the Dendritic Cells to search for foreign bodies and pathogens. The cell itself is classified as an Antigen-presenting cell; Due to the fact that when the cell finds antigens in the system, it presents them to other immune system associated cells to stimulate a search and destroy action against the pathogen creating the antigen.
Natural Killer Cells
These cells target abnormal cells in the body, primary cancer and tumour cells. When they find a cancer or tumour cell, the natural killer cell bonds to the cell and proceed to pepper the diseased cell with a deadly payload of toxins. This assault results in the diseased cell being destroyed and its DNA being shredded to prevent further infection.
Cytokines
Cytokines are the message-runners that carry specific messaged to specific cells. They rely on a specific receptor on the receiving cell to pass on the message.
Transferrin
Transferrin’s suck up any excess iron to prevent it being used by any enemy microbes. Kind of like how the Russians burnt all the resources to prevent napoleon’s troops from getting supplies. Another purpose that transferrins carry out is the reduction of inflammation, which can be employed after the benefits of inflammation, has work off.
Inflammation
Inflammation is a response to a release of histamine into the bloodstream. The benefit of inflammation is increased blood flow to the area of inflammation. This results in a boost of nutrients into the area.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are some of the more common Phagocytes that defend our bodies. Phagocytes engulf foreign bodies and attack them with lysosomes. This destroys the foreign body but can also destroy the phagocyte; however, it is a necessary sacrifice to make to keep the body alive.
Macrophages
When monocytes exit the blood stream they become known as Macrophage; which literally means a ‘Large (macro) Thing That Engulfs (phage)’. Macrophages will typically gather in body tissue, usually connective tissue, lungs, liver, kidneys, brain and bone. (according to VCH ppt 4b)
Dendritic Cells
Dendritic means branching out or shaped like a tree. This shape helps the Dendritic Cells to search for foreign bodies and pathogens. The cell itself is classified as an Antigen-presenting cell; Due to the fact that when the cell finds antigens in the system, it presents them to other immune system associated cells to stimulate a search and destroy action against the pathogen creating the antigen.
Natural Killer Cells
These cells target abnormal cells in the body, primary cancer and tumour cells. When they find a cancer or tumour cell, the natural killer cell bonds to the cell and proceed to pepper the diseased cell with a deadly payload of toxins. This assault results in the diseased cell being destroyed and its DNA being shredded to prevent further infection.
Cytokines
Cytokines are the message-runners that carry specific messaged to specific cells. They rely on a specific receptor on the receiving cell to pass on the message.
Transferrin
Transferrin’s suck up any excess iron to prevent it being used by any enemy microbes. Kind of like how the Russians burnt all the resources to prevent napoleon’s troops from getting supplies. Another purpose that transferrins carry out is the reduction of inflammation, which can be employed after the benefits of inflammation, has work off.
Inflammation
Inflammation is a response to a release of histamine into the bloodstream. The benefit of inflammation is increased blood flow to the area of inflammation. This results in a boost of nutrients into the area.
Fever
Fevers are a double edged sword. On one hand, they are fantastic for denaturing foreign antigens/pathogens/microbes and their enzymes. However, if the fever goes too high, the heat will start to kill your own body. Combined with the lost of water due to the sweating.
Fevers are a double edged sword. On one hand, they are fantastic for denaturing foreign antigens/pathogens/microbes and their enzymes. However, if the fever goes too high, the heat will start to kill your own body. Combined with the lost of water due to the sweating.