How do white blood cells attack foreign bodies?

How do white blood cells attack foreign bodies?

White blood cells, also called leukocytes (LOO-kuh-sytes), play an important role in the immune system. Some types of white blood cells, called phagocytes (FAH-guh-sytes), chew up invading organisms. Others, called lymphocytes (LIM-fuh-sytes), help the body remember the invaders and destroy them.

Do white blood cells digest foreign cells?

Large white blood cells that reside in the blood stream that specialize in engulfing and digesting cellular debris, pathogens and other foreign substances in the body. Monocytes become macrophages.

How do white blood cells recognize foreign cells?

B cells bearing antibodies and T cells bearing ab or gd receptors recognize the appearance of an invader in the body in different ways. B cell antibodies bind to the invading particle, such as a bacterium, in the form in which it enters the body. The ab receptor-bearing T cells do not bind the invader directly.

What does the immune system do to foreign cells?

When the body senses foreign substances (called antigens), the immune system works to recognize the antigens and get rid of them. B lymphocytes are triggered to make antibodies (also called immunoglobulins). These proteins lock onto specific antigens.

What cells attack foreign bodies?

Some types of white blood cells, called phagocytes (FAH-guh-sytes), chew up invading organisms. Others, called lymphocytes (LIM-fuh-sytes), help the body remember the invaders and destroy them. One type of phagocyte is the neutrophil (NOO-truh-fil), which fights bacteria.

What are foreign cells?

A cell with molecules on its surface that are not identical to those on the body’s own cells is identified as being foreign. The immune system then attacks that cell. Such a cell may be a cell from transplanted tissue or one of the body’s cells that has been infected by an invading microorganism or altered by cancer.