The human immune system is a highly complex system of interrelated components. It is based on the principle of reaction and response to a pathogen or virus. Somers (2020) notes that “the result is a system of great flexibility and power, which, pushed the right way, can be made to collapse upon itself.” In particular, the receptors can cause the immune system to become overactive, attacking the body’s cells and tissues.
The human immune system has numerous components, which is its main drawback. In particular, the internal and adaptive systems work together to effectively identify and destroy infected and foreign cells. The immune system’s mechanisms rely on the alarm system based on positive feedback. More specifically, the immune system uses feedback to maintain a balance of destruction and defense in the body. B cells play a key role in forming the immune response, which generates antibodies. However, the formation of a response or feedback depends on various factors, which can sometimes result in a defective response. Thus, antibodies can be produced against the body’s cells, which causes allergies or autoimmune diseases.
An important role in this process is played by proteins that act as receptors for pathogens and viruses. Sometimes these receptors are overactive and cause an inadequate immune response. This process raises the alarm, to which the immune system responds by using white blood cells and T killers. Thus, the immune system is built on the interaction between receptors and activators. However, this delicate balance can be disturbed by a variety of factors and worsen with age and an increase in DNA damage. An overactive immune system reacts both to pathogens and viruses and to the body’s own cells. This aspect makes it potentially dangerous to humans, as it is based on a system of false alarms.
References
Somers, J. (2020). How Coronavirus hacks the immune system. The New Yorker. Web.