Host immune and inflammatory system

The host immune and inflammatory system is a multifaceted biological network composed of specialized cells, tissues, and signaling proteins that defend the body against pathogens and facilitate tissue repair (NIH, 2020). It is broadly divided into the innate immune system, which provides rapid, non-specific responses, and the adaptive immune system, which generates specific memory against antigens (Janeway et al., 2001). Inflammation serves as a vital physiological response to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens or damaged cells, involving the recruitment of leukocytes and the release of chemical mediators like cytokines and chemokines (StatPearls, 2023). Chronic dysregulation of these pathways is a hallmark of various diseases, including autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as chronic inflammatory states that contribute to cardiovascular disease and cancer (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2018). Therapeutic strategies targeting this system range from broad-spectrum immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs to highly specific monoclonal antibodies that block individual cytokines or receptors (NCBI, 2021).

Other names

Immune systemInflammatory systemHost defense systemImmune-inflammatory axis

Drugs targeting this system act by inhibiting inflammatory mediators, modulating lymphocyte activity, or blocking immune checkpoints to restore balance or enhance host defense (PubMed, 2022).