Bhagyalaxmi Fouzdar-hongal

Journey of Lymphocyte Bhagyalaxmi Fouzdar-hongal

Much of the knowledge of lymphocyte life history has come from experimental situations. Lymphocytes are the only cells in the body capable of specifically recognizing and distinguishing different antigenic determinants and are responsible for the two defining characteristics of the adaptive immune response, specificity and memory. An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumour cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own healthy cells and tissues in order to function properly. Disorders in the immune system can result in disease. Since lymphocytes play an integral role in the bodys immune response as well as have several important physiologic roles to play within the body, any aberration in these cells leads to widespread pathological conditions. Thus it is imperative for us to understand the development, structure and function of these cells in order to prevent disease and accurately diagnose and treat such pathological conditions.