Question

sakar cell bio

Is the immune system the MOST important of all the body's systems? Why or why not? What concerns do you have if your immune system malfunctions?

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Answer 1

Yes, immune system can be regarded as an important system of the body to a certain extent. Every individual is under constant attack from wide range of potentially harmful invaders right from the birth to the end of the life. The invaders may be bacteria, virus, neoplastic cells, parasites, foreign (xenobiotic) cells.

Immune system offers the protective measures in both non specific and specific defense mechanisms

A. Non specific defense mechanisms involve:

i. Defence at body surfaces: Sebum, mucus, sweat, hair in the nose, cilia in the respiratory tract, unidirectional flow of urine from the bladder etc offer protection by warding off the microbes and prevents their access into the body

ii. Phagocytosis: Macrophages, neturophils inactivate the foreign particles that enter into the body by phagocytosis (cell eating)

iii. Natural antimicrobial substances like Gastric HCl, Lysozyme present in granulocytes, tears, body secretions, Antibodies in nasal secretions, saliva, acidic medium and washing action of saliva, interferons, complement proteins etc serve as natural antimicrobial substances defending the body against foreign invasions

iv. Inflammatory responses serves as warning bell of local tissue damage which serves as protective, isolate, inactivate and remove the causative agent as well as damged tissue so that healing may take place

B. Specific Defence mechanisms which involves immunological survelliance which is done by T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes.

T-lymphocytes are processed by Thymus gland and provide cell mediated immunity. Cell mediated immunity consists of Memory T cells (which are long lived cells and provide protection against second encounter with the same antigen), Cytotoxic cells (which inactivate the cells carrying antigens), Helper T cells (which produce cytokines, and help B lymphocytes in production of antibodies), Supressor T cells which turn off the activated T and B lymphocytes

B lymphocytes ar produced and procees in Bone marrow. They produce antibodies and provide antibody mediated immunity

Type of antibody	Function
IgA	Found in body secretions like breast milk, saliva and prevent antigens crossing epithelial membranes and invading deeper tissues
IgD	This is made by B cells and displayed on their surfaces. Antigens bind here to activate B cells
IgE	Found on cell membranes of basophils, mast cells and upon antigen binding, activates the inflammatory response. Hence associated with allergy
IgG	Largest and and most common antibody. It crosses the placenta to protect the fetus
IgM	Produced in large quantities in the primary response and a potent activator of complement

So, why immune system is actually important?

From the above discussion it can be clearly seen that Immune system is the surveillance of the body and required to protect the body against foreign invasion. No matter how organised or how beautiful a system is, it can be ruined by the intruders and its purpose may be lost or misconceived. Similarly, human body's complex organisation and coordination is maintained intact with the help of immune system with the help of its efficient machinery that takes care of the slightest inkling towards invasion

If a human body is maintained free against foreign invasions, the role of immune system becomes zero, but practically this is impossible and never is a case scenario, hence immune system is always an important system. But having that said immune system cannot be qualified as the superlative system as each and every system has its own importance, infact, it is the coordination between these systems that makes the organism thrive

What concerns do you have if your immune system malfunctions?

Immune system hyperfunction may lead to allergic reactions which cause more damage to the body when compared to the allergen itself. Immune responses are exaggerated versions of normal immune function which may be mild ex. running nose, streaming eyes of hay fever or may be extreme like causing death ex. anaphylactic shock

Autoimmune diseases may arise as a result of immune system malfunction where the body fails to recgonise the own cells and attacks them as seen in the case of Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's disease, Grave's disease, Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Myasthenia gravis etc

Immunodeficiency is the condition the immune system is compromised giving rise to opportunistic infections by non pathogenic microbes (Candida, E.coli etc), Immune deficiency may also arise due to secondary factors like protein deficiency, acute infection, chronic renal failure, bone marrow diseases, splenectomy, or AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)