The human immune status is a comprehensive indicator of the state in which the immune system is located . The need for its study arises with the suspicion of the failure of the protective system. In this case, the nature of the violations is revealed and the way to eliminate them is determined. The changes that the immune status undergoes must be identified in a timely manner. Otherwise, serious enough diseases (allergies, infectious processes, tumors and other pathologies) are likely to occur.
Humoral (associated with a fluid in the body) and cellular immunity affects the immune status, an analysis of their condition is carried out using separate tests included in the immunogram. The study allows you to determine the state of the body's defense system. As a result of the analysis, a specialist evaluates the usefulness of different links that make up the immune status. In this case, all tests are important, since the protective function of the body is ensured by their joint actions.
The humoral component of a healthy immune system is able to prevent the spread of pathogens (extracellular) of viral and bacterial infections in the initial period of their penetration into the body. Humoral reactions are provided by B-lymphocytes and are carried out in blood serum. Having recognized the causative agent (foreign agent), B-lymphocytes differentiate (pass) into plasma cells, which produce (produce) antibodies - immunoglobulins (serum proteins). Immunoglobulins bind to the penetrated foreign agent, block its biological activity, then remove it from the body. Thus, the direct effect of immunoglobulins.
Whey proteins are involved in the activation of other immunological reactions that maintain normal immune status. So, for example, “killer cells” (NK and K cells) lyse (dissolve) completely foreign cells that are coated with immunoglobulins (Ig G).
By binding to the antigen, immunoglobulins also activate a set of eleven whey proteins (complement system). Some elements of the complement system have the ability to attack the cell membrane, causing the death of a foreign cell, while other elements can delimit the area of ​​inflammation and attract more white blood cells into it.
The humoral link, which is included in the immune status, is assessed by detecting and counting B-lymphocytes in the blood (in percentage and absolute numbers). Their functional activity (B-lymphocytes) is determined by the synthesized immunoglobulins in response to B-cell stimulation. The presence of antibodies to the most common viruses and bacteria, the concentration of autoantibodies or immune complexes is determined by measuring the total level of immunoglobulins and the amount in different classes (IgA, IgG, IgM).
The complement system is important in the diagnosis of congenital immunodeficiencies with defects in this system. In other cases, for example, with autoimmune pathologies, data on the C4 and C3 components of complement are important.
In the norm of the immune status, the cell link effectively copes with parasites, fungi, cancer cells, intracellular infections. Protective reactions are carried out in the lymphoid system of cells and are provided by T-lymphocytes. When a foreign element enters the body, T cells that recognize it must be activated, starting a process that contributes to the destruction of the foreign element. T-lymphocytes of some populations also quite actively interfere with the humoral defense system, helping to stimulate the synthesis of antibodies by B cells (T-helpers) or suppress their production (T-suppressors).