Alkaloids in the immune system

Immune systems in animals and plants are quite different. There are two types of immune systems in animals (1) innate, so-called non-specific or passive immunity (2) adaptive, so-called specifically acquired , active, or cell-mediated immunity. Innate immunity is based on barriers to infectious agents and adaptive immunity is based on multiplicative and specific antibody release after contact with an antigen (infectious agent). The so-called memory cells in animals respond to secondary contact with an antigen. 

Immune systems in plants are based on passive, structural immunity, such as a waxy surface or cuticle, and active immunity exists in the expression of some chemicals. The mechanism of this system is to prevent infectious agents from gaining access to plant cells. Plant immunity may also be protoplasmic. This means that the protoplast in cells is an unfavourable environment for pathogenic development. Plants do not, however, produce antibodies like animals do. The protoplasmic immunity is arranged generally by phytoalexins, non-specific 

Although there are many differences between immunity systems in plants and animals, there are similarities. Both systems have two kinds of immunity passive and active. Alkaloids may take part in both systems. 

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Fiserova A, Pospisil M. Role of ergot alkaloids in the immune system. In Kren V, Clark L, eds. Ergot—The Genus Claviceps. Amsterdam Harwood, 1999, pp 451-467. 

Allergenic effects. A number of secondary metabolites influence the immune system of animals, such as coumarins, furanocoumarins, hypericin, and helenalin. Common to these compounds is a strong allergenic effect on those parts of the skin or mucosa that have come into contact with the compounds (4,17,312). Activation or repression of the immune response is certainly a target that was selected during evolution as an antiherbivore strategy. The function of alkaloids in this context is hardly known. 

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