YOUR IMMUNE HEALTH: BIOCHEMICAL COOPERATION
The complements aren’t the only immune soldiers that work together. T-cells, as you remember, secrete chemicals that increase the cell-eating activity of the giant macrophages. Antibodies assist macrophages by locking onto antigens and identifying them as enemies to be devoured. And macrophages help the lymphocytes (T- and B-cells) by acting as “scouts.”
Macrophages are stationed right by the lymphocyte colonies in various lymph tissues. It’s felt that the macrophages face the antigen first. The macrophages devour the antigen, then excrete a piece of it, which they “present” to the T-and B-cells to study. The piece of dead antigen acts like battle orders for the lymphocytes, exciting some of them to action.
The cells of your immune system constantly interact with other cells by releasing substances that “give orders” to other cells. Earlier I mentioned that immune soldiers engaging antigens can send out a chemical “call for help,” and that T-cells release chemicals that increase the phagocytic activity of the macrophage, and sensitize other T-cells to the same antigen.
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March 10, 2010
Your Immune Health- Biochemical Cooperation
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