File:Response-of-the-cells-of-innate-and-adaptive-immune-system-to-fullerene.jpg

English: Response of the cells of innate and adaptive immune system to fullerene. The cells of the innate immune system are the first to respond. When they encounter the intruder, they become activated and start producing different cytokines, which have direct antiviral activity (IFN- γ , TNF- α ), deliver stimulatory signals to other cells of the innate system (IL-12, IL-18), initiate inflammation (IL-1 α / β , IL-6), or act as chemoattractants that recruit inflammatory cells to the site of infection (MIP-1 α , IP-10). During this cascade of events, the antigens are presented to T cells, mainly by DC, which are the professional antigen presenting cells that link the innate and adaptive immune system. When primed, T cells secrete IL-2, which induces their clonal proliferation and development of effector functions. Differentiated effector cells, particularly CD8+ T cells, tackle infection and eliminate the virus. B cells can be activated by cells of innate immunity (IL-21) or directly by antigens, and upon activation they differentiate into plasma cells producing antigen specific antibodies.