Innate and Adaptive immunity

Innate immunity is an individual’s natural immunity which exists in healthy human beings (Abbas, Lichtman & Pillai, 2012) and intervenes with prevention against infections. Some researchers report that innate immunity is the initial incomplete response until a more acquired and definite response develops (Fearon & Locksley, 1996). It may also determine that which antigens the body responds to and the nature of the response. Adaptive immunity, on the other hand is develop later than innate immunity and adapts to the ‘microbial invaders’ (Abbas, Lichtman & Pillai, 2012). Adaptive immunity requires division and expansion of lymphocytes before it can provide defense against infections. It consists of antibodies that are a product of the lymphocytes. According to Medzhitove & Janeway (1997) since many years innate immunity has been seen as the secondary immunity compared to adaptive immunity in terms of hierarchy of immune functions. They report that however recently innate immunity has gained recognition among researchers. Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease that has increased in the past few years and believed to be caused by deficiency in the innate immunity system (De Benedetto et al, 2009). Boguniewicz & Leung (2011) report that Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often precedes asthma and allergic disorders. Researchers are starting to believe that other than healing and protecting the skin, innate immunity irregularities should be addressed as well. Natural Killer cells (NK) have been distinguished as cells of innate immunity but now researchers are reporting that they share same properties as the lymphocytes that are part of the adaptive immunity (Sun, Beilke, & Lanier, 2009). Transfer of NK cells into organisms have shown increased immunity in case of a viral change. NK cells directly participate in adaptive immune responses by interacting with dendritic cells majority of the time (Raulet, 2004). This interaction can result in positive or negative cell activity and in reciprocation NK cells function is regulated by dendritic cells. NK cells are also directly expressed to T-cells and that’s how they affect the adaptive immune system. Cytokines are proteins that are released by the CD4 T-cells aka helper T cells (Abbas et al, 2012). These cytokines activate B cells and other cell types, macrophages and stimulate the function of these cells. This is how they affect the adaptive immune system. As a health psychologist, I would use the method of diet control and health eating to help boost adaptive immunity. Research shows that obesity is characterized by expansion of tissue adipose that can cause inflammatory immune cells (Sell, Habich  & Eckel, 2012). Obesity also affects the production of cytokines and the function of macrophages.

References

Abbas, A. K., Lichtman, A. H., & Pillai, S. (2012). Basic immunology: functions and disorders of the immune system. Elsevier Health Sciences.

De Benedetto, A., Agnihothri, R., McGirt, L. Y., Bankova, L. G., & Beck, L. A. (2009). Atopic Dermatitis: A Disease Caused by Innate Immune Defects&quest.Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 129(1), 14-30.

Fearon, D. T., & Locksley, R. M. (1996). The instructive role of innate immunity in the acquired immune response. Science, 272(5258), 50-54.

Medzhitov, R., & Janeway Jr, C. A. (1997). Innate immunity: impact on the adaptive immune response. Current opinion in immunology, 9(1), 4-9.

Raulet, D. H. (2004). Interplay of natural killer cells and their receptors with the adaptive immune response. Nature immunology, 5(10), 996-1002.

Sun, J. C., Beilke, J. N., & Lanier, L. L. (2009). Adaptive immune features of natural killer cells. Nature, 457(7229), 557-561.