Personal Narrative: The Innate Immune System

When I was a young girl I remember playing in the woods with my brother and sister. We accidentally disturbed a hive of angry bees, and we each got stung five to ten times. We all were crying and screaming as we were being chased back up to our cabin. Halfway up the hill by sister fell down because her throat started to close up. My mom fortunately heard us yelling and ran down to my sister with an Epi-pen. The bees were still chasing us, so after my mom stabbed my sister with the Epi-pen she picked her up and we all ran into the cabin. My brother and I got stung about fifteen times and only had the little red bumps to show for it. My sister on the other hand, got stung about twenty times and almost died. I was so confused as to why. I asked

Cells in the innate immune system include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, macrophages, mast cells, and dendtritic cells. Neutrophils quickly reach the site of infection to phagocytose and kill invading organisms. Eosinophils release granules to kill parasitic worms and are also involved in allergic reactions. Basophils and mast cells mediate allergic reactions by releasing granules containing substances that cause blood vessel dilation, airway constriction, and recruitment of more cells. Monocytes and macrophages phagocytose pathogens and foreign particles, kill pathogens and tumor cells, remove old red blood cells from circulation, secrete substances that activate other cells (cytokines), and activate the immune system. Dendritic cells are phagocytic and also effective at antigen

It is why my sister almost died of a bee sting that just left a simple red bump on me. It involves production of IgE antibody to the inducing antigen or allergen. Type II hypersensitivity is known as antibody-mediated cytotoxic hypersensitivity. Examples include transfusion reactions, hemolytic disease of the newborn, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. It involves the production of IgG or IgM antibodies to antigens on the surface of host cells. These antibodies can destroy the cells through complement-mediated cytolysis, opsonization and phagocytosis, or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Type III hypersensitivity involves formation of IgG or IgM antibody that reacts with soluble antigen under conditions of slight antigen excess to form small complexes that precipitates in the tissues. Examples of type III hypersensitivity include serum sickness, lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Type IV hypersensitivity is a cell-mediated or delayed type of hypersensitivity. Examples include contact dermatitis and hypersensitivity