What are some examples of bridges between specific and non-specific immunity?
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Antigen presenting cells like dendritic cells and macrophages are part of the non-specific immune response. They phagocytose bacteria and can present pieces of bacterial proteins on their surface on their MHC class II molecules. They can also be induced to produce various cytokines such as IL-12, and IL-1. Additionally, dendritic cells can cross-present antigen on their MHC-class 1 molecules and produce the cytokine IL-6. These cells can travel to the lymph nodes where they activate helper and killer T-cells recognize their MHC II or MHC 1 presented antigen respectively. Activated helper and killer T-cells are a specific response. Furthermore, activated helper T-cells can go on to assist in the further activation of killer T-cells and in the activation and class switch of B-cells, which is a specific response.
In fact, although a specific immune response can be activated without a much of a non-specific response (say by B-cells that recognize a polysaccaride antigen), the specific immune response is very weak unless is helped on its way by the non-specific immune response.