Non-specific and specific defense mechanisms

The defense mechanisms in our body are ensured by our immunity. Immunity can be divided into specific and non-specific.

Inflammation

Inflammation is the basic physiological mechanism by which an organism responds to integrity damage (physically, biologically and chemically). A special type of inflammation is that caused by thermal damage. It is called sterile. The source of the damage is an antigen or microorganism that is part of a specific immune response.

Non-specific immunity

Non-specific immunity responds quickly to a stimulus. The cells are ready in advance. It is characterized by the fact that it does not distinguish between antigens, i.e. it only briefly recognizes whether the antigen is foreign or its own. It has the same effectiveness against different pathogens, as it responds to structures or functionalities that are common to pathogens. He has no cellular memory. This feature stems from the fact that even when one type of pathogen is repeatedly encountered, the reaction proceeds at the same rate and intensity. Heterogeneous cell populations occur here, including neutrophils, macrophages and NK cells.

Specific immunity

Specific immunity, unlike non-specific immunity, occurs only after a certain time when foreign substances remain in the organism and are not removed by non-specific mechanisms. A characteristic feature is a specific differentiation, differences in antigens are recognized. Furthermore, it does not respond physiologically to its own antigens and has an immunological memory. Using membrane receptors, it recognizes virtually all antigenic determinants of the external and internal environment, which is related to diversity. Specific immunity consists mainly of T and B lymphocytes.

Phases

1. recognition of foreign antigens - T (c I t) and B lymphocyte receptors
2. lymphocyte activation - clonal selection theory
3. effector phase - elimination
4. a phase of cell count decline
5. immunological memory

Links

Chapters in Medical Biology I / Petr Goetz et al. Edition Statement 2. vyd. Publication, Distribution, etc. (Imprint) Jinočany: H & H, 1995