|
How the immune system functions:
Our bodies are incredibly complex “machines” with intricate working parts all charged with its own task(s). For purposes of this Web site, let’s discuss in the simplest of terms, what parts are used to keep us healthy and free from infection.
You may or may not have already read the brief overviews explaining each of the categories of germs. (If you haven’t, check it out here. It coincides quite nicely with what you are about to read.) When a germ infiltrates our system, we have certain little microscopic “fighters” that are sent out to battle and destroy anything our body finds harmful to us.
So, if a germ (be it a bacteria, virus or fungi) enters through say a cut in our skin or up into our nasal cavity, our immune system kicks into gear and sends out specific fighters to fight what has invaded.
What component our body sends to battle depends upon which type of germ is infiltrating. On the cellular level, our immune system consists mostly of our white blood cells (WBC), which are produced by our bone marrow. Our white blood cells are made up of five subcategories, and each are programmed to do its own thing.
The Loving Lymphocyte:
The first subset we’ll discuss is called the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes fight viruses best. These cells normally make up about 25 percent of the total WBC count. This count will be higher, however, if the body is fighting an infection that charges the lymphocyte with the battle (i.e., a viral infection such as a cold).
It is interesting to note that lymphocytes also fight cancer cells. This is why if a person is found to have an overly-high white blood cell count, they are sent for further cancer screening by their physician.
The Almighty Neutrophil:
The second big “fighter” our white blood cells create is called the neutrophil. The neutrophil is charged mainly with fighting bacteria, but also fights against invading fungi. It is interesting to note that bacteria have a special coating on them that actually attract neutrophils. So, the neutrophils hunt down bacteria and fungi in the body and engulf and destroy them to keep us safe!
You may have heard the term “neutropenic” in relation to people who are immunocompromised, or overly susceptible to infection. The term neutropenic means a person has too little neutrophils circulating in their blood to keep them safe from bacterial and fungal infections. Neutropenia occurs most often in cancer patients that undergo chemotherapy treatment, but there are also other rare diseases and conditions that cause a more “naturally occurring” form of this immunosuppressed state.
Monocytes, Eosinophils and Basophils:
These are the other three white blood cells, each with their own tasks, and they all help the “more popular” lymphocytes and neutrophils complete their tasks. These three little fighters help battle such infiltrates as fungi, parasites and allergens. They are the “unsung heroes” of our immune system.
|
