Role of B cells and T cells — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2022

Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?

They protect the body from environmental allergens.
They alleviate the body’s pain and inflammation.
They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

Immunity refers to the overall capacity of the body to combat disease-causing organisms (pathogens), and it is provided by the immune system. The primary and secondary immune responses involve two specific types of lymphocytes found in the blood: B-lymphocytes (B-cells) and T-lymphocytes (T-cells).
Both B-cells and T-cells contribute to acquired immunity. B-cells play a key role in the antibody-mediated immune response. They produce antibodies that circulate in the bloodstream and target pathogens. On the other hand, T-cells are responsible for the cell-mediated immune response. Unlike B-cells, T-cells do not secrete antibodies themselves, but they assist B-cells in producing them.

Diagram illustrating types of immunity, categorized into innate and acquired immunity. Innate immunity includes organs and cells present from birth, while acquired immunity, developing during a lifetime, is divided into active immunity (natural from infection and artificial from vaccination) and passive immunity (natural from mother’s antibodies and artificial from medical treatments).