Immunology's favourite multitasker
As scientists, we are always trying to put things into boxes, carefully researching and labelling discoveries in an attempt to make the world make sense.
Just as there is an organ system for each process of the body – for example, a digestive system for absorbing nutrients from food - the immune system is responsible for defending the body against invading pathogens and foreign objects.
The immune system is divided into two main ‘boxes’; the innate and adaptive response. The tortoise and hare of biology – the innate system responding immediately to the threat of invasion, a fast but simple response; the adaptive system taking longer to develop but providing a more specific and targeted response.
But one immune cell is slightly more complex than the others, and doesn’t quite fit as clearly into just one box. Dendritic cells have many important roles as part of both immune responses. Much like other innate cells, (such as macrophages), dendritic cells locate the invading pathogens and chop off a piece of pathogen that can be recognised by T cells - adaptive immune cells.
Dendritic cells are also responsive to the environment, recognising specific danger signals sent by special messengers, cytokines. This is particularly important as the cytokines can change the response of the dendritic cell. This in turn affects which T cell subtype is matured and replicated; each subtype having slightly different properties when embarking upon a journey around the body to defend and protect its borders.
Dendritic cells really are the ultimate multitasker!
If you're a fan of video explanations, this one is a good little one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqFOwudwEI
Just as there is an organ system for each process of the body – for example, a digestive system for absorbing nutrients from food - the immune system is responsible for defending the body against invading pathogens and foreign objects.
The immune system is divided into two main ‘boxes’; the innate and adaptive response. The tortoise and hare of biology – the innate system responding immediately to the threat of invasion, a fast but simple response; the adaptive system taking longer to develop but providing a more specific and targeted response.
But one immune cell is slightly more complex than the others, and doesn’t quite fit as clearly into just one box. Dendritic cells have many important roles as part of both immune responses. Much like other innate cells, (such as macrophages), dendritic cells locate the invading pathogens and chop off a piece of pathogen that can be recognised by T cells - adaptive immune cells.
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| A juggling dendritic cell! |
Dendritic cells are also responsive to the environment, recognising specific danger signals sent by special messengers, cytokines. This is particularly important as the cytokines can change the response of the dendritic cell. This in turn affects which T cell subtype is matured and replicated; each subtype having slightly different properties when embarking upon a journey around the body to defend and protect its borders.
Dendritic cells really are the ultimate multitasker!
If you're a fan of video explanations, this one is a good little one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqFOwudwEI
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