Adaptive immunity

Adaptive immunity is a subsystem of the overall immune system that is composed of highly specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate or prevent pathogen growth. In contrast to the innate immunity, adaptive immunity is highly specific to a particular pathogen.

Overview

Adaptive immunity creates immunological memory after an initial response to a specific pathogen, leading to an enhanced response to subsequent encounters with that same pathogen. This process of acquired immunity is the basis of vaccination.

Types of Adaptive Immunity

Adaptive immunity can be divided into two types:

• Humoral immunity: This involves the production of antibody molecules in response to an antigen and is mediated by B cells.
• Cell-mediated immunity: This involves the production of cytotoxic T cells, activated by macrophages, dendritic cells, and other antigen presenting cells, in response to an antigen.

Mechanism

The adaptive immune response consists of antigens invading the body, to which a specific response is produced and over time, a memory response develops. This allows for a faster and more efficient response to diseases and infections.

Role in Disease

Adaptive immunity plays a key role in the development of immune disorders, including autoimmune diseases, allergies, and cancer. Understanding the mechanisms of adaptive immunity is fundamental in developing treatments and therapies for these diseases.

See Also

• Innate immunity
• Immune system
• Antigen
• Antibody
• Vaccination