Comparing the Innate and Adaptive Immune Systems

If you don't work primarily in immunology research, this post will give you a better understanding of the key differences between the innate and adaptive immune systems, including the immune cells present and active in each.

The Innate Immune System

Responsible for rapid responses to foreign bodies, the innate immune system is your body's first line of defense. If you're familiar with the rush of white blood cells to a cut to prevent infection, you have a solid example of the innate immune system.

Leukocytes, dendritic cells, NK cells, and plasma proteins are some of the key players here.

The Adaptive Immune System

Beyond the generic response to pathogens is the targeted response to specific antigens. B cells and T cells power the adaptive immune system and help your body stave off attacks from specific antigens. The cells of the adaptive immune system build a memory of prior attacks so they can defend against future attacks more quickly.

Helper T cells recognize antigens and work to activate other cells in the adaptive immune system, like B cells, macrophages, and cytotoxic T cells, which destroy damaged or cancerous cells.

The following diagram shows some of the immune cells found in the human innate and adaptive immune systems.

This post originally appeared on the Astarte Biologics blog and has been modified for Patch.