Which cells are primarily involved in the acquired immune response?

The acquired immune response, also known as the adaptive immune response, is primarily mediated by specific types of lymphocytes, namely B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes are responsible for producing antibodies, which specifically target and neutralize pathogens, while T lymphocytes play a crucial role in cell-mediated immunity by directly attacking infected cells and orchestrating other immune responses.

This specialized response is characterized by specificity and memory, allowing the immune system to recognize previously encountered pathogens and respond more effectively upon re-exposure. The B and T lymphocytes are key players in developing long-lasting immunity, which is a hallmark of the acquired immune system.

Neutrophils, on the other hand, are primarily part of the innate immune response and act quickly to the site of infection, but they do not provide the same level of specificity or memory as B and T lymphocytes. Macrophages also play a significant role in innate immunity by engulfing pathogens and presenting their antigens to lymphocytes, thus bridging innate and acquired responses, but they do not directly mediate the acquired response themselves. Natural killer cells are involved in the innate immune response as well, targeting virus-infected and transformed cells but do not participate in the adaptive immune response as B and T lymphocytes