Which cells are involved in the adaptive immune response?

• A. Macrophages and dendritic cells
• B. B cells and T cells
• C. Natural killer cells
• D. Neutrophils

Answer: (B)

The adaptive immune response is primarily mediated by B cells and T cells, both of which play critical roles in recognizing specific antigens and mounting a tailored immune response against pathogens.

B cells are responsible for humoral immunity, which involves the production of antibodies that can neutralize pathogens or mark them for destruction by other immune cells. They can also differentiate into memory B cells after exposure to an antigen, providing long-term immunity.

T cells, on the other hand, are involved in cell-mediated immunity. There are several types of T cells, including helper T cells that assist other immune cells and cytotoxic T cells that directly kill infected or cancerous cells. Like B cells, T cells can also form memory cells to provide a quicker response during subsequent exposures to the same antigen.

The other cell types mentioned do play roles in the immune system, but they are not primarily involved in the adaptive immune response. Macrophages and dendritic cells are important in the innate immune response and act as antigen-presenting cells to activate T cells, but they do not specifically mediate the adaptive response themselves. Natural killer cells also belong to the innate immune response, focusing on the rapid elimination of infected or abnormal cells without requiring prior exposure to an antigen. Neutrophils