Humoral Factors of Innate Immune System

Lysozyme

Lysozyme is one of the major bactericidal agents in secretions and particularly helps to protect vulnerable sites such as the eyes and nasal passages. The lysoszyme exerts bactericidal effects by digesting bacterial cell walls

The gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to lysozyme action than gram-negative bacteria as the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria helps to protect them.

Complement

The Complement system is a group of about 30 proteins within the body fluids of all vertebrates and some invertebrates. The main functions of complement are to promote phagocytosis or causes lysis of an invading organism.

The complement acts as a cascade, like the blood clotting system. It begins with the the early enzymes in the cascade binding to invading bacteria and fungi as they have an affinity for components of microbial cell membranes. This binding initiates a cascade so that the binding of one molecule will eventually lead to the fixation of millions of later molecules. SOme of the the early components act as targets for phagocytes while the later components punch holes in bacteria, causing their lysis.

Interferons

• Lysozyme and complement have only marginal effects on virus infections because these are intracellular
  • The body has evolved non-specific mechanisms to protect against viruses
    • The most notable of these is the interferons
• Interferons are small polypeptides produced mainly by virus-infected cells
  • Interact with uninfected cells and render them resistant to infection
    • This resistance is mainly due to the production of enzymes that digest viral nucleic acids

Originally funded by the RVC Jim Bee Award 2007