inate immunity
Last reviewed 04/2021
Innate immunity is basic and nonspecific.
- represents the first line of defence to an intruding pathogen
- response is unable to “memorise” the same said pathogen should the body be exposed to it in the future
It includes:
- phagocytic cells (macrophages, neutrophils; more generally, antigen-presenting cells (APCs))
- natural killer cells (NK cells)
- mast cells
- dendritic cells
- eosinophils
- barriers (e.g. skin)
- antimicrobial compounds, for example,
- complement
- acute phase proteins
- interferons