Review article

Characteristics of Immune Reactions in Respiratory Infections

Alenka Gagro

Abstract

The immune response to respiratory
infection must be rapid and effi cient in preventing those
with a potential lethal outcome. However, the excessive
or inappropriate infl ammatory and immune responses
could lead to destruction of lung tissue thus grossly
affecting respiratory function. The fi rst line of defence
comes from barriers such as mucus and cilia, followed by
mediators that constitute the innate response. Activation
of these mediators (i.e. lactoferrin, lysozyme, collectins
and defensins) can lead directly to lysis of pathogens, or
to destruction through opsonisation or the recruitment
of infl ammatory cells. The adaptive immune response
includes the production of antibodies and the responses of
T lymphocytes. Different subsets of T lymphocytes secreting
Th1- or Th2-associated cytokines may dramatically alter the
balance between clearance of the pathogen from the lung
and induction of tissue damage depending on the cytokines
they secrete.

Keywords

innate immunity; adaptive immunity; antibodies; T cells

Hrčak ID:

18815

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/18815

Publication date:

26.1.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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