Immune System Basics

Components of the Immune System: Organs and Cells

Many organs throughout your body have an essential role in the development and structure of the immune system, including your bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils and adenoids and appendix. These organs are responsible for the growth, development and deployment of lymphocytes, the white cells that are the key laborers of the immune system. The primary lymphocytes are B-cells, T-cells, natural killer cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Each has a specific role in keeping your body and immune system healthy.

The Immune Response

Primary Immune Response

The first time your body is exposed to particular viruses or bacteria, it takes time for your immune system to recognize the invading organisms and to figure out how to kill them. During this elapsed time, bacteria and viruses grow exponentially, thus increasing the amount of time it takes to completely eliminate the infection.

(1) A cut in the skin damages cells and allows bacteria into the body signaling an immune response from macrophages and other scavenger immune cells.

(2) Mast cells release chemicals that trigger inflammation, allow-ing other immune cells to rush to the problem area.

(3) Before reinforcements arrive, macrophages and other prestationed immune cells start attacking bacteria, chop them up into bits called antigens.

(4) They are then transported to lymph nodes where these macrophages attach to B cells and T cells. B cells begin producing antibodies specifically for the particular antigens or germs the body is exposed to.

(5) The antibodies trigger responses from certain immune cells like NK cells, macrophages and killer T cells to engulf and kill the bacteria-infected cells.

(6) Helper T cells signal the antibodies and killer T cells to go directly to the wound.

(7) While the immune cells are taking care of the germs, other cells called platelets begin healing the wound by forming clots which close the wound.


Secondary Immune Response

The second time the body is exposed to a particular virus or bacteria, the immune system recognizes the invading organism more quickly and immediately knows how to fight it off. Because the amount of time in these steps is shorter, the infection can be eliminated more quickly. Transfer Factor triggers a secondary immune response by borrowing the immune memory of the cow or the chicken.(1) A cut in the skin damages cells and allows bacteria into the body signaling an immune response from macrophages and other scavenger immune cells.

(2) Mast cells release chemicals that trigger inflammation, allowing other immune cells to rush to the problem area.

(3) Before reinforcements arrive, macrophages and other pre-stationed immune cells start attacking bacteria, chop them up into bits called antigens.

(4) B cells, set in motion by previous immune responses, begin producing antibodies specifically for the particular antigens or germs the body is exposed to. The antibodies trigger responses from certain immune cells like NK cells, macrophages and killer T cells to engulf and kill the bacteria-infected cells.

(5) Helper T cells signal the antibodies and killer T cells to go directly to the wound.

(6) While the immune cells are taking care of the germs, other cells called platelets begin healing the wound by forming clots which close the wound.