Modes of Communication Within the Immune System: Action or Reaction?

The immune system is a complex intertwining of individual components who collectively have one major purpose in mind: to recognize and eliminate antigens which are perceived by the immune system to be “different,” i.e. nonself. To do this, and to prevent the immune system from launching an attack on itself which may prove fatal, the immune, system has developed a complex mechanism of regulation which functions remarkably well (most of the time). This system of regulation is based on a system of cellular co-recognition and communication that theories of immunosemiotics are based.