In: Biology
Why do you think the immune reaction is classified as a positive feedback reaction? Justify that classification.
Answer: Positive feedback reaction are reactions where the end products of a reaction cause the exacerbation of that reaction to occur in a feedback loop. Immune reaction is classified as a positive feedback reaction because the end products of the immune reaction cause the exacerbation of that reaction to occur in a feedback loop. For example, upon pathogenic infection, white blood cells get activated and release more inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines in turn increase the production of white blood cells in positive feedback loop. Similarly, positive feedback loop is used to increase the immune response of B-lymphocytes. B-lymphocytes gets activated when its antibody binds to an antigen. After activation, B-lymphocytes produces more antibodies and complement protein C3. Both the antibodies and complement protein C3 binds to pathogen and stimulates the B-cells to produce more antibodies and C3 proteins in a positive feedback loop.