Antigens and antibodies fight each other in the body, with antibodies produced by B cells to attack foreign substances. Antigens can be life-threatening in blood and organ transplants, and cancer cells are also antigens. There are five classes of antibodies, with IgG being the most common and widespread.
Antigens and antibodies are essentially at war with each other inside most human bodies. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are Y-shaped molecules found in the blood that fight against foreign substances known as antigens. Antigens are proteins or polysaccharides from bacteria, chemicals or viruses that attack the immune system. They can also cause allergic reactions from dander, food, or pollen.
In general, antigens can also be life-threatening in blood transfusions and organ transplants. For example, if a patient receives a blood transfusion and her body treats the new blood as a foreign substance, the antibodies can severely attack the immune system. With organ transplants, the tissue cells from the transplant may be rejected by the immune system. In both examples, this could lead to a serious infection or even death.
Not all foreign antigens are environmental. For example, cancer cells are antigens that develop within the body. If the immune system fails to remove or destroy these cancerous cells, they could multiply by the millions and severely attack the immune system. Antigens and antibodies fight each other for the simple survival of the human body.
In response to these foreign substances, the immune system produces B cells, which are proteins that make antibodies to attack antigens. B lymphocytes are white blood cells found in stem cells of the bone marrow. Eventually they develop into plasma cells, which produce antibodies.
To attack the most common antigens found in the body, the Y-shaped molecules allow different antibodies to attach to different antigens. The Y-shaped molecules lock onto an antigen key and then wrap themselves around the antigen until it is destroyed: antigens and antibodies are deadly enemies, in a sense.
At the ends of the Y-shaped molecules are amino acids. Amino acids are proteins that help antibodies recognize the presence of antigens. Each antibody is created to match most antigens. Antigens and antibodies are numerous in the body: the body’s immune system is capable of taking up and destroying over a million different antigens.
There are five different classes of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM. IgA antibodies are usually found in mucus, saliva and tears. IgD antibodies are found in the lining of belly and chest tissue, but it’s not exactly clear what their main function is. IgE antibodies release histamines against foreign substances such as pollen, food, hay fever and asthma.
IgG antibodies are the most common and widespread antibodies. They protect the immune system from major infections and diseases. They also move between cells and blood to protect organs and skin. IgM antibodies are the first antibodies that move against any type of bacterial, chemical, fungal or viral attack.
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