Page 113 - The Miracle of the Blood and Heart

Patogen invades the body
B cells
The macrophage presents the antigen-MHC
complex on its surface and secretes IL-1.
Helper
T- cell Activated Helper T-cell receptor combines with the
B-cell complex.
increases in
size and Helper T-cells secrete interleukins.
begins
multiplying.
Clone of competent B lymphocytes

Plasma Some B-cells change form to
cells produce plasma cells.
Remaining
memory cells
Plasma cells secrete specific antibodies.
Antibodies
secreted
Lymph and blood transport antibodies to
the infected site.
To the invasion site
When a B-cell attaches to an antigen and helper T-cells start secreting inter-
leukin, the B-cell becomes activated. It starts multiplying and differentiate,
some turning into plasma cells that secrete antibodies. The plasma cells
remain in the lymph tissues, but the antibodies go to the infected sites by way
of the bloodstream and lymph system. Antigen-antibody complexes form and
stimulate the complement system. Some B-cells differentiate into memory
cells and continue to produce antibodies, even years after the infection.
The reason why we humans catch certain illnesses such as
measles only once is that the B lymphocytes now recognize the
virus at once, as soon as it enters the body, and these cells imme-
diately digest and eliminate it. The virus has no opportuni-
ty to cause a recurrence of the disease. The reason why
children are inoculated—that is, injected with killed
or weakened causative agents of the disease—is to
introduce the pathogen to the B-cells. 49 Adnan
Oktar

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