Avizores del Sistema Inmune, Guardianes del Organismo

The immune response begins when our body comes in contact with foreign substances (antigens), for example pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. The cells involved in the initiation of the response (dendritic cells and tissue macrophages) are strategically placed at sites of antigen concentration where they are locally activated. Recognition of pathogens by these cells is mediated by a plethora of receptors from different molecular families, such as Toll-­‐like (TLRs), NLRs, RIG-­‐like and C-­‐lectin receptors. These cells migrate to lymphoid organs such as lymph nodes,where they alert and activate other cells initiating a cascade of processes to eliminate the pathogen. These processes include the generation of “memory lymphocytes”, which perpetuate the memory of the antigen initially recognized and wait for a recurrence of the attack. These memory cells are able to act much more effectively, preventing possible re-­‐infection. The phenomenon of immunological memory is the base of the processes of immunization and vaccines.