The immune system is the armor of our body; what is it, how is it formed and how is it protected, let’s examine together.
The immune system allows the body to interact with its environment, protect against all kinds of threats and maintain its integrity. This function is based on the body’s ability to distinguish its own cells from those of other organisms and then recognize these cells as foreign.
Although this topic is quite complex, let’s try to better understand what immunity is, how it works and why it is important: then its characteristics and how it works will be explained. Then we will talk about a weak immune system and how we can strengthen the immune system with lifestyle, nutrition and supplements.
What is the immune system?
The immune system can be defined as a complex network of defense mechanisms that work through specialized cells and tissues to eliminate potential foreign invaders. The second group includes bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms, as well as viruses and fungal pathogens. The immune system is also “responsible” for protecting against infections caused by dust, pollen, or other foreign bodies. Finally, the immune system also works to eliminate cells in the body that may be harmful (such as brain tumors).
What are innate and adaptive immunity?
According to the mechanisms used, immunity is divided into innate immunity and acquired immunity. The body’s defenses are based in particular on its own defenses (white skin, mucous membranes, secretions, etc.) and on mechanisms present in the body from birth that allow it to attack a foreign agent quickly and indiscriminately: for this reason, we also speak of nonspecific protection.
In contrast, adaptive (or acquired) immunity involves responses that are specific to foreign agents and therefore specific to them. Modified immune responses are activated after the initial infection and take longer to manifest than the innate immune response. However, when the immune system encounters a new virus, it keeps it in its memory and responds more quickly each time it is repeated.
Before going into more detail, it should be noted that the innate and adaptive immune responses are interconnected and that both types of responses share many mediators (molecules).
Nonspecific defense mechanisms are represented by the body and antibodies, such as the skin, mucous membranes and organic fluids produced by the body. The latter group includes chemicals that can destroy some invading bacteria (such as lysozyme). The innate response is characterized by the production of cytokines (or proteins that act as regulatory signals) and the activation of plasma proteins, which act in a cascade to destroy invading organisms or promote other activities. Phagocytosis, the process of engulfing and destroying pathogens by specialized cells, is also part of the immune system.
What are the cells of the immune system?
Cells involved in the immune response include granulocytes (which differentiate into neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils, respectively), monocytes (which differentiate into macrophages), and natural killer cells (NK cells);
The immune system involved in the adaptive response is represented by B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes;
Dendritic cells also serve as a link between the source and recipient systems [1]. These are APC cells (antigen-presenting cells) that capture invaders and “present” them to T lymphocytes, which can eliminate them.
What does it mean to have a thin body?
The immune system responds with a complex process that must be done well. When the cause of the disease is present, the body is weak and ineffective in combating foreign bodies: this situation is often described as “weak immunity”. In addition to genetic predispositions associated with its poor functioning, the functioning of the immune system depends on lifestyle, nutrition, and also the age of the person.
