Sentinel cell
Sentinel cell
Sentinel cells (pronunciation: sen-ti-nel cells) are a type of immune cell that play a crucial role in the body's immune response. They are often the first cells to encounter pathogens or foreign substances in the body, and they help to initiate an immune response.
Etymology
The term "sentinel cell" comes from the word "sentinel", which refers to a guard or watchman. In this context, sentinel cells are the "guards" of the body, constantly monitoring for signs of infection or disease.
Function
Sentinel cells are found throughout the body, particularly in areas that are exposed to the external environment, such as the skin, lungs, and digestive tract. They include various types of white blood cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and mast cells.
When a sentinel cell encounters a pathogen, it engulfs the pathogen and presents pieces of it on its surface. This process, known as antigen presentation, alerts other immune cells to the presence of the pathogen and triggers an immune response.
Related Terms
- Immune response: The body's defensive reaction to invasion by bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances.
- White blood cells: Cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders.
- Macrophages: A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells in a process called phagocytosis.
- Dendritic cells: Antigen-presenting cells (also known as accessory cells) of the mammalian immune system.
- Mast cells: A type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the inflammatory process.
- Antigen presentation: A process in the body's immune system by which macrophages, dendritic cells, and other cell types capture antigens, then enable their recognition by T-cells.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sentinel cell
- Wikipedia's article - Sentinel cell
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