Anatomy/Immune System

The immune system is a focus topic of the event Anatomy. It comes into rotation for the 2014 season. The immune system is composed of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” invaders.

Overview
The immune system protects the body from disease and potentially harmful foreign invaders called pathogens. 5 types of pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and helminths, or worms. The first 3 are often referred to as microorganisms, and the later 2 are also known as parasites. The process through which pathogens cause disease is called pathogenesis.

The immune system defends against pathogens two ways: preventing foreign organisms from entering the body and destroying harmful organisms that do enter the body. It detects pathogens and differentiates between potentially harmful agents and the body's own healthy tissues.

The Immune System
There are 3 levels of the immune system. The first two are nonspecific (or innate), meaning they defend against all kinds of pathogens. The third is specific (or adaptive, or acquired), because it identifies and targets certain pathogens.

First Line of Defense
The first line of defense is made up primarily the skin, mucous membranes, and their secretions. They protect against external pathogens from entering the body. Here are some examples.
 * The skin is a physical barrier made of dead cells. It secretes oily and acidic secretions from sweat glands, which inhibit bacterial growth.
 * Sebum (unsaturated fatty acids) provides a protective film on the skin and inhibits growth
 * Secretions from mucous membranes (saliva, tears, sweat, etc.) contain antimicrobial proteins such as lysozyme, which breaks down bacterial cell walls.
 * Vibrissae (nose hair) filters microbes, dust, and pollutants within air.
 * Cilia that line the lungs traps and moves foreign substances out from the lungs towards the throat with a sweeping motion.
 * Gastric juice, which is highly acidic, kills microbes in the stomach.
 * Symbiotic bacteria in the digestive tract and vagina out-compete other potentially harmful organisms.
 * Urine flushes microbes from the urethra.
 * Defecation and vomiting also expel microorganisms.

Second Line of Defense
The second line of defense deals with pathogens that have entered the body. It involves several nonspecific mechanisms.
 * Phagocytes are white blood cells (leukocytes) which engulf pathogens by extending pseudopods to surround it. This process is called phagocytosis. Leukocytes are formed in stem cells in bone marrow through the process of hematopoiesis (this term refers to all blood cells).
 * Macrophages are larger, long-living versions of monocytes. Monocytes circulate through the blood stream, and are known as macrophages when they mature. Macrophages move throughout blood, lymph, and body tissues. They are specialized in the removal of dying or dead cells and cellular debris as well as pathogens. Macrophages also play an important role in chronic inflammation.
 * Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell. They are normally present in the blood stream, but quickly enter tissues to phagocytize pathogens, primarily bacteria, in acute inflammation. They respond within minutes to the site of injury.
 * Basophils and Eosinophils are also white blood cells, but are not phagocytes. Basophils secrete chemicals such as histamine. Histamine triggers vasodilation, causing more phagocytes to be brought into the area. Histamine is also known as being responsible for the symptoms of allergies and the common cold. Eosinophils are short-lived and have a wide range of functions, including attacking parasites and helping with allergic responses. The proteins they make can be harmful to the body's own tissues as well as pathogens.
 * MAST Cells also secrete histamine, as well as seratonin. They help cause inflammation and respond to wound injuries.
 * Natural Killer Cells (NK cells) attack abnormal or pathogen-infected body cells, such as tumors, by releasing toxic granules to kill the cells.
 * The Complement System is a group of about 30 proteins which assist defense reactions. They help by enhancing the process of phagocytosis, attracting phagocytes to foreign cells, and promoting cell lysis. They are generally synthesized by the liver.
 * Interferons are secreted by cells invaded by a virus. They stimulate neighboring cells to produce proteins that will help defend against the viruses.
 * Dendritic Cells are the messengers between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Dendritic cells acquire and present antigens to lymphocytes to activate them.
 * Chemokines guide the movement of cells. Cells respond to certain chemokines by moving towards areas of higher concentrations of chemokines. In the immune system, they create a chemical gradient to attract neutrophils and other leucocytes to the wound site.
 * Fevers are an increase in body temperature. Substances that induce fevers are called pyrogens. The increased temperature inhibits bacterial growth and increases the rate of tissue repair during an infection. It may also help certain types of immune cells function more efficiently.

Resources

 * Official soinc.org Training Handout 2013
 * Official soinc.org Training PowerPoint 2014
 * University of Illinois Biological Science: Immune System Lecture
 * Garland Science Excerpt: Innate Immunity
 * University of Washington: Phagocytosis