immunreaktivität

Immunreaktivität refers to the ability of the immune system to recognize and respond to a specific antigen. An antigen is a molecule, typically a foreign substance, that can trigger an immune response. This response can involve the production of antibodies, the activation of immune cells like T cells and B cells, and the development of immunological memory. The specificity of the immune response is crucial, as it allows the body to target pathogens and abnormal cells while largely ignoring its own healthy tissues. When immunreaktivität is functioning correctly, it protects the body from infections and diseases. However, dysregulation of immunreaktivität can lead to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells, or immunodeficiency, where the immune system is weakened and unable to fight off infections effectively. Measuring immunreaktivität is often done through various diagnostic tests that detect the presence of antibodies or immune cells specific to certain antigens.