Human adaptive and innate immune system

The human adaptive and innate immune system is a multi-layered defense network composed of specialized cells, tissues, and molecular signals designed to protect the host from pathogens and endogenous threats. The innate system provides rapid, non-specific responses through physical barriers and phagocytic cells, while the adaptive system generates highly specific responses and long-term memory via B and T lymphocytes (NIH, 2023). Dysregulation of these systems is central to the pathogenesis of numerous conditions, including autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer (StatPearls, 2023). In drug discovery, the immune system is not treated as a single target but as a vast repository of specific molecular targets such as cytokines, cell-surface receptors, and intracellular enzymes. Pharmacological modulation can range from broad immunosuppression to highly targeted immunotherapy, aiming to restore balance or enhance the body's natural defenses against malignancy or infection (PubMed, 2018).

Other names

Immune systemHost defense systemHuman immune system

Drugs targeting the immune system act through diverse mechanisms, including cytokine neutralization, receptor antagonism, T-cell activation, B-cell depletion, and modulation of signaling pathways like JAK/STAT or NF-kB (StatPearls, 2023).