An introduction to immunology and immunopathology

Abstract

In basic terms, the immune system has two lines of defense: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the first immunological, non-specific (antigen-independent) mechanism for fighting against an intruding pathogen. It is a rapid immune response, occurring within minutes or hours after aggression, that has no immunologic memory. Adaptive immunity, on the other hand, is antigen-dependent and antigen-specific; it has the capacity for memory, which enables the host to mount a more rapid and efficient immune response upon subsequent exposure to the antigen. There is a great deal of synergy between the adaptive immune system and its innate counterpart, and defects in either system can provoke illness or disease, such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency disorders and hypersensitivity reactions. This article provides a practical overview of innate and adaptive immunity, and describes how these host defense mechanisms are involved in both health and illness.

Figure 1

Characteristics and function of cells involved in innate immunity [1,3,4]. *Dust cells (within pulmonary alveolus), histiocytes (connective tissue), Kupffer cells (liver), microglial cells (neural tissue), epithelioid cells (granulomas), osteoclasts (bone), mesangial cells (kidney)

Figure 2

Adaptive immunity: T-cell and B-cell activation and function. APC: antigen-presenting cell; TCR: T-cell receptor; MHC: major histocompatibility complex Figure adapted from images available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:B_cell_activation.png and http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Antigen_presentation.svg