StemCell Therapy

The immune system has many components:

Antigens Innate Immunity are any substance that the immune system can recognize and that can thus stimulate an immune response.

Cells are the smallest unit of a living organism, composed of a nucleus and cytoplasm surrounded by a membrane.

Chemotaxis is the process of by which a chemical substance attracts cells to a particular site.

Helper T cells are white blood cells that help B cells produce antibodies against foreign antigens, help killer T cells become active, and stimulate macrophages, enabling them to ingest infected or abnormal cells more efficiently.

Histocompatibility (literally, compatibility of tissue) is determined by human leukocyte antigens (self-identification molecules). Histocompatibility is used to determine whether a transplanted tissue or organ will be accepted by the recipient.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are a group of identification molecules located on the surface of all cells in a combination that is almost unique for each person, thereby enabling the body to distinguish self from nonself. This group of identification molecules is also called the major histocompatibility complex.

An immune complex is an antibody attached to an antigen.

An immune response is the reaction of the immune system to an antigen.

Immunoglobulin is another name for antibody.

Interleukin is a type of messenger (cytokine) secreted by some white blood cells to affect other white blood cells.

Killer (cytotoxic) T cells are T cells that attach to infected cells and cancer cells and kill them.

Leukocyte is another name for a white blood cell, such as a monocyte, a neutrophil, an eosinophil, a basophil, or a lymphocyte (a B cell or T cell).

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a synonym for human leukocyte antigens.

Mast cells are cells in tissues that release histamine and other substances involved in inflammatory and allergic reactions.

A molecule is a group of atoms chemically combined to form a unique substance.

Natural killer cells are a type of white blood cell that can recognize and kill abnormal cells, such as certain infected cells and cancer cells, without having to first learn that the cells are abnormal.

Phagocytes are a type of cell that ingests and kills or destroys invading microorganisms, other cells, and cell fragments. Phagocytes include neutrophils and macrophages.

Phagocytosis is the process of a cell engulfing and ingesting an invading microorganism, another cell, or a cell fragment.

A receptor is a molecule on a cells surface or inside the cell that can identify specific molecules, which fit precisely in itas a key fits in its lock.

Regulatory (suppressor) T cells are white blood cells that help end an immune response.

See original here:
Overview of the Immune System - The Merck Manuals

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