Humoral Immunity

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Two cellular systems maintain our immunity. Both are acquired by exposure and behave in an adaptive way. These systems use white blood cells called lymphocytes. Humoral immunity, also called circulating immunity, is the system that uses lymphocytes called B-cells (made in the bone marrow) to attack foreign agents.

These B-cells provide circulating antibodies (immunoglobulins) named IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE that protect us against diseases by reacting to antigens. IgM is the major antibody produced in primary immune responses (to foreign agents), while IgG plays a vital role in secondary immune responses (protection against a future foreign agent.)

However, in certain cases these antibodies can become hypervigilant, attaching to and destroying the bodies own cells.

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