As the term AIDS describe it HIV and AIDS in human is the deficiency of the ability of the immune system of the human to protect it. This immune deficiency is caused by the loss of the CD4+ T cells that are essential for the functioning of the immune system. In other terms when the CDA+ T cells are less in the body then the human body is prone to an illness and infections. The Immune System in Understanding HIV and AIDS in Human The immune system is composed of many interdependent cell types that collectively protect the body from bacterial, parasitic, fungal, viral infections and from the growth of tumor cells. Many of these cell types have specialized functions they can engulf bacteria, kill parasites or tumor cells, or kill viral-infected cells. Often, these cells depend on the T helper subset for activation signals in the form of secretions formally known as cytokines, lymphokines (or interleukins). In understanding HIV and AIDS in humansthe immune system other than the CD4+ T cells, it contains other kind of specialized cells in protecting the human body. One of the specialized cells that are also part of the immune system is the natural killer cells. In understanding HIV and AIDS the natural killer cell in the immune system are similar to the killer T cell subset, which is a CD8+ T cell. The reason they are referred to as killer cells is due to how the act in protecting the body from infection. They function as effectors cells that directly kill certain tumor such as melanomas lymphomas and viral infected cells. Then there are the B cells in the immune system in understanding HIV and AIDS in humans. The B cells are produced in the bone marrow. The B cells act by producing antibodies in response to foreign protein of bacteria, viruses and tumor cells. When the antigens are detected in the body bloodstream they transported to the spleen where the B cells are found, they become activated and produce large amount of antibody. The immune system also in understanding HIV and AIDS in human has the granulocyte in simple terms known as the white blood cells. These cells are predominantly important in removal of bacteria and parasites from the body. The granulocytes, which are produced in the bone marrow, are able to provide immunity by engulfing these foreign bodies and degrade them using their powerful enzymes. Also in the immune system are the macrophages, produced in the bone marrow. In understanding HIV and AIDS in humans the macrophages are important in the regulation of immune response. They are often referred to as antigen presenting cells (APC). This is because they pick up and ingest foreign material and then present these antigens to other cells of the immune system such as T cells and B cells that destroy them. Then there are the dendritic cells which are also produced in the bone marrow. They also function as the macrophages, antigen presenting cells, they engulf they antigens ingest them and then present them to the cells that destroy them. In fact the dendritic cells are more efficient antigen presenting cells than the macrophages in the immune system in understanding HIV and AIDS in humans. Further in understanding HIV and AIDS in human the immune system can respond to antigen in many different ways. These fall into two major categories:
- Antibody mediated immunity. Antibodies, dissolved in blood, lymph, and other body fluids bind the antigen and trigger a response to it. The form of immunity is also called humoral immunity.
- Cell mediated immunity (CMI). T cells and the lymphocytes bind to the surface of other cells that display the antigen and trigger a response. The response may involve other lymphocytes and any of the other white blood cells.