Immune Function (definition of)
The human immune system consists of three defensive layers:
- skin
- innate immune system
- adaptive immune system
Should a pathogen such as bacteria or a virus get past the skin (or epidermal) layer, the innate immune system is activated. This consists of blood cells called anti-bodies. If the skin represents a physical barrier (say, the Great Wall of China or the Pacific Ocean), antibodies are the Marines. The response at this point is "non-specific;" it is a generalized response against a wide range of pathogens, but does not target any one in particular.
Should the innate immune system fail, the adaptive immune system goes into action. These antibodies form in response to a specific bacterial or viral infection, attacking the pathogens by seeking out their weak spots, rather like Navy SEALS or Special Ops.
Although there has been a great deal of research into the use of the immune system in fighting cancer, like mesothelioma (peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma), the problem is that cancer is literally the "enemy within" - the body's own cells that turn traitor; they are in a sense the terrorists that the body's internal security and defense system does not recognize. The trick for oncology research is to "train" the adaptive immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells in the same way they would a virus or harmful bacteria. This is the current direction of research.
