The Immune System
Kari Anderson, Sam Castellanos, Andrew Hanson, Kathy Xu
Main Function
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The Immune System is used to prevent infection and disease.
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Using a variety of cells and organs, the Immune System disposes of
foreign or harmful antibodies through a process known as the immune
response.
Components of the Immune System
Thymus: A small butterfly shaped organ
that is between your breastplate and
heart. While activated, it helps immature
thymocytes mature into T cells, a type of
white blood cell. The T cells are very
important as they are the manager of the
immune system.
Components of the Immune System
Spleen: Filters blood, destroys old or
damaged cells and it contains T cells
that look for foreign particles as the
blood is circulated
Lymph Nodes: Also contains T cells,
but filters lymph, fluid drained from
tissue, instead of blood
More Components
Bone Marrow- Produces white
blood cells from within the bone. It
sometimes contains stem cells,
which are able to morph into any
human cell
Leukocytes- Commonly known as
white blood cells, able to find and
eliminate pathogens, found within
the bone marrow
White Blood Cells and Proteins
• White blood cells, such as lymphocytes (B cells and T cells) and phagocytes,
are found in the bone marrow.
• Complex proteins work as a complementary system to the white blood cells,
and work with them to fight diseases.
White Blood Cell Types: T Cells
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There are four different types of T Cells:
• Helper T cells detect diseases and
help produce antibodies
• Cytotoxic T cells destroy infected
cells
• Regulatory T cells halt the immune
process when the pathogens are
gone
• Memory T cells remember how to
defeat the pathogen and can quickly
respond if the pathogen returns
White Blood Cells: B Cells and Complement
Proteins
B Cells:
Complement Proteins
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When B cells encounter a
pathogen or other diseasecausing substance, they
mature into plasma cells that
produce antibodies.
Antibodies are specialized
proteins that attach
themselves to foreign cells to
make them for destruction.
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The complement system is a
group of proteins in the blood
stream.
They work in an organized
fashion to defend against
pathogens.
These complex proteins work
with antibodies and white
blood cells to rid the body of
infection.
Homeostasis
• The immune system maintains homeostasis by preventing
pathogens from disrupting the rest of the body.
• In order to keeps pathogens out of the other body systems, the
immune system relies on two different processes: innate
immunity and adaptive immunity.
Innate vs. Acquired (Adaptive) Immunity
Innate Immunity is a nonspecific defensive mechanism, that is started
within hours of antigens appearing in the body. It creates physical
barriers such as blood and skin and also creates cells to attack the
foreign substance.
Adaptive immunity develops throughout our lives as we are exposed to
different diseases or immunized against diseases through vaccines. It
contains specialized cells that eliminate and prevent pathogen growth.
Autoimmune Diseases
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An autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack healthy
cells
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Lupus is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the US.
Lupus causes the immune system to attack its own cells instead of
harmful cells, causing fatigue and a facial rash.
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Another autoimmune disease is Rheumatoid Arthritis. This painful
disease causes healthy cells, body tissue and joints to be attacked,
causing swelling and possibly leading to bone erosion.
Vaccines
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Vaccines are substances, often injected, that
stimulate the immune system and prepare it for a
future disease.
The vaccine places a small amount of a certain
disease into the bloodstream so that the body can
identify and build defenses against the disease.
Common vaccines include the flu vaccine, which
changes to adapt to the latest strain, and a variety of
vaccines you receive as a child, such as chickenpox,
polio, and the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.
To strengthen the immune system, you should
receive your yearly vaccines to help your body fight