Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Department of Surgery, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Review Article
An Overview of the Immune System: What the Physician Should Know
Author(s): Elroy Patrick Weledji*
The immune response system contributes to the body’s defence against infection, toxic or allergenic substances and is concerned with the recognition of tumour cells. In responding to a challenge the immune system is able to distinguish the body’s own cells and components (self) via the major histocompatibility complex (HLA-DR) class 1 from cells that are foreign (non-self). The abnormalities of the immune response is demonstrated in the immunodeficiency diseases (congenital and acquired), the hypersensitivity reactions that may be involved in producing autoimmune diseases and the switching-off of T cell function by cancer cells. The genetic regulations of the immune system have major implications in clinical medicine as to the understanding of autoimmune disease and the idiotypic network that militates against autoimmune response and excessive immune responses. Th.. View More»