T-helpers, what is it? Find out what the T helper means is increased or lowered

The human body includes many components that are in constant interrelation with each other. The main mechanisms include: respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, genitourinary, endocrine and nervous systems. In order to protect each of these components, there are special protective forces of the body. The mechanism that protects us from the harmful effects of the environment is immunity. He, like other systems of the body, has connections with the central nervous system and the endocrine apparatus.

The role of immunity in the body

The main function of immunity is protection from foreign substances that penetrate from the environment or are formed endogenously in pathological processes. Its effect is due to special blood cells - lymphocytes. Lymphocytes belong to a variety of leukocytes and are constantly present in the human body. Their increase suggests that the system is struggling with an alien agent, and a decrease - about defective defenses - immunodeficiency. Another function is the fight against neoplasms, which is carried out through the tumor necrosis factor. The immune system includes a set of organs that serve as a barrier to harmful factors. These include:

• Skin integument;
• Thymus;
• spleen;
• The lymph nodes;
• Red bone marrow;
• blood.

There are 2 types of mechanisms that are inextricably linked. Cellular immunity performs control of harmful particles by means of T-lymphocytes. These structures, in turn, are divided into T-helpers, T-suppressors, T-killers.

The work of cellular immunity

Cellular immunity operates at the level of the smallest structures of the body. This level of protection includes several different lymphocytes, each of which performs its specific function. They all come from white blood cells and occupy the bulk of them. The name T-lymphocytes was obtained due to the place of their origin - thymus. The thymus gland begins to produce these immune structures even in the period of human embryonic development, and their differentiation ends in childhood. Gradually this body ceases to perform its functions, and by 15-18 years consists only of adipose tissue. Thymus produces only elements of cellular immunity - T-lymphocytes: helpers, killers and suppressors.

When foreign agent enters the body activates its protective systems, that is, immunity. In the first place macrophages start to fight with a harmful factor, their function is to absorb the antigen. If they can not cope with their task, then the next level of protection is connected - cellular immunity. The first to recognize the T-killer antigen are killers of extraneous agents. The activity of T-helpers is to help the immune system. They control the division and differentiation of all cells in the body. Another function is the formation of the relationship between the two types of immunity, that is, the help of B-lymphocytes to secrete antibodies, the activation of other structures (monocytes, T-killers, mast cells). T-suppressors are needed in order to reduce the excessive activity of helpers, if necessary.

Types of T-helpers

Depending on the function being performed, T-helpers are divided into 2 types: the first and the second. The former produce the production of tumor necrosis factor (control of neoplasms), gamma interferon (control of viral agents), interleukin-2 (participation in inflammatory reactions). All these functions are aimed at destroying the antigens that are inside the cell.

The second type of T-helper is needed for communication with humoral immunity. These T lymphocytes produce interleukins 4, 5, 10 and 13, which provide this interrelation. In addition, T-helper type 2 is responsible for the production of immunoglobulin E, which is directly related to allergic reactions of the body.

Increase and decrease of T-helpers in the body

There are special norms of all lymphocytes in the body, their study is called an immunogram. Any deviation, whether it is an increase or a decrease in cells, is considered abnormal, that is, some pathological condition develops. If T-helpers are lowered, then the protective system of the body is not able to fully exercise its effect. This condition is immunodeficiency and is observed in pregnancy and lactation, after illness, in chronic infections. The extreme manifestation is HIV-infection - a complete disruption of the activity of cellular immunity. If T-helpers are increased, then in the body there is an excessive reaction to antigens, that is, the struggle with them goes from a normal process to a pathological reaction. This condition is observed with allergies.

Interrelation of cellular and humoral immunity

As is known, the immune system carries out its protective properties on two levels. One of them acts exclusively on cellular structures, that is, when viruses or abnormal gene rearrangements get involved, the action of T-lymphocytes is included. The second level is humoral regulation, which is carried out through the action on the entire body with the help of immunoglobulins. In some cases, these protection systems can work separately from each other, but most often they interact with each other. Communication of cellular and humoral immunity is carried out by T-helpers, that is, "helpers". This population of T-lymphocytes produces specific interleukins, they include: IL-4, 5, 10, 13. Without these structures, the development and functioning of humoral protection is impossible.

The value of T-helpers in the immune system

Thanks to the isolation of interleukins, the immune system develops and protects us from harmful effects. The tumor necrosis factor prevents oncological processes, which is one of the most important functions of the body. All this is done by T-helpers. Despite the fact that they act indirectly (through other cells), their importance in the immune system is very important, since they help in organizing the protective properties of the body.