Introduction
The immune system is a collection of cells, tissues and molecules that protect our body from toxins and microbes in the environment. It serves as our defense against molecules that our body does not recognize as its own. This system contains two divisions: the innate immune system and adaptive immune system. Both systems differ in the types of cells produced and the time and length in mounting a response. Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. This disease occurs as result of an attack by the immune system on commensal (normal) enteric bacteria in genetically predisposed individuals. The integrity of the mucosal barrier in IBD is often comprised, thus immunological regulation of this barrier is vital. Microbes, the environment and other host factors are synergistic in stimulating an immune response and intestinal inflammation. Immune cells responsible for the suppression or activation of immune responses in IBD are often studied in efforts to better understand the underlying mechanisms that cause this complex disease.
The Immune System
The …show more content…
These immune cells are present in the bone marrow and other lymphoid tissues. Antibodies are a key component of humoral immunity and provide protection through extracellular fluids. They are produced by plasma cells which originate from B lymphocytes. Antibodies are effective at dealing with extracellular (or freely circulating) pathogens. They have various functions such as 1) targeting extracellular pathogens for lysis via phagocytosis or complement, 2) neutralizing receptors on bacterial and viral surfaces and 3) inactivating circulating toxins1. However, some pathogens may hide and replicate within host cells, highlighting the need for a second type of immune response, or cell-mediated immunity and
The immune system is a collection of cells, tissues and molecules that protect our body from toxins and microbes in the environment. It serves as our defense against molecules that our body does not recognize as its own. This system contains two divisions: the innate immune system and adaptive immune system. Both systems differ in the types of cells produced and the time and length in mounting a response. Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. This disease occurs as result of an attack by the immune system on commensal (normal) enteric bacteria in genetically predisposed individuals. The integrity of the mucosal barrier in IBD is often comprised, thus immunological regulation of this barrier is vital. Microbes, the environment and other host factors are synergistic in stimulating an immune response and intestinal inflammation. Immune cells responsible for the suppression or activation of immune responses in IBD are often studied in efforts to better understand the underlying mechanisms that cause this complex disease.
The Immune System
The …show more content…
These immune cells are present in the bone marrow and other lymphoid tissues. Antibodies are a key component of humoral immunity and provide protection through extracellular fluids. They are produced by plasma cells which originate from B lymphocytes. Antibodies are effective at dealing with extracellular (or freely circulating) pathogens. They have various functions such as 1) targeting extracellular pathogens for lysis via phagocytosis or complement, 2) neutralizing receptors on bacterial and viral surfaces and 3) inactivating circulating toxins1. However, some pathogens may hide and replicate within host cells, highlighting the need for a second type of immune response, or cell-mediated immunity and