Immune system - Disorders of the human immune system

The immune system is the system of specialised cells and organs that protect an organism from outside biological influences. (Though in a broad sense, almost every organ has a protective function - for example, the tight seal of the skin or the acidic environment of the stomach.) When the immune system is functioning properly, it protects the body against bacteria and viral infections, destroying cancer cells and foreign substances. If the immune system weakens, its ability to defend the body also weakens, allowing pathogens, includin ...

Including:

• Immune system - Structure
• Immune system - Innate immune system
• Immune system - Adaptive immune system
• Immune system - Intersections between systems
• Immune system - Disorders of the human immune system
• Immune system - Other factors that affect immune response
• Immune system - Pharmacology

Read more here: » Immune system: Encyclopedia - Immune system

The most important function of the human immune system occurs at the cellular level of the blood and tissues. The lymphatic and blood circulation systems are highways for specialized white blood cells to travel around the body. White blood cells include B cells, T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages. Each has a different responsibility, but all function together with the primary objective of recognizing, attacking and destroying bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, and all substances seen as foreign. Without this coordinated effort, a person would not be able to surv ...

See also:

Immune system, Immune system - Structure, Immune system - Innate immune system, Immune system - Adaptive immune system, Immune system - Intersections between systems, Immune system - Disorders of the human immune system, Immune system - Other factors that affect immune response, Immune system - Pharmacology

Read more here: » Immune system: Encyclopedia II - Immune system - Disorders of the human immune system

Most multicellular organisms possess an "innate immune system", generally comprising a set of germ-line encoded receptors to pathogens, that does not change during the lifetime of the organism. Adaptive immunity, in which the responses to pathogens change and develop during the lifetime of an individual, seems to have appeared somewhat abruptly in evolutionary time, with the appearance of ch ...

See also:

Immune system, Immune system - Structure, Immune system - Innate immune system, Immune system - Adaptive immune system, Immune system - Intersections between systems, Immune system - Disorders of the human immune system, Immune system - Other factors that affect immune response, Immune system - Pharmacology

Read more here: » Immune system: Encyclopedia II - Immune system - Structure

Despite high hopes, there are no medications that directly increases the activity of the immune system. Various forms of medication that activate the immune system may indeed cause autoimmune disorders. Suppression of the immune system is often used to control autoimmune disorders or inflammation when this causes excessive tissue damage, and to prevent transplant rejection after an organ transplant. Commonly used immunosuppressants include glucocorticoids, azathioprine, methotrexate, ciclosporin, cyclophosphamide and mercaptopurine. I ...

See also:

Immune system, Immune system - Structure, Immune system - Innate immune system, Immune system - Adaptive immune system, Immune system - Intersections between systems, Immune system - Disorders of the human immune system, Immune system - Other factors that affect immune response, Immune system - Pharmacology

Read more here: » Immune system: Encyclopedia II - Immune system - Pharmacology