Which statement best explains the difference between humoral and cell mediated immune response?
- A. Humoral immunity involves B-Lymphocytes and cell mediated immunity involves T-Lymphocytes
- B. Humoral immunity destroys viruses and cell mediated immunity destroys bacteria
- C. Humoral immunity is specific and cell mediated immunity is nonspecific
- D. Humoral immunity uses antibodies and cell mediated immunity does not involve immune cells
Explanation
B cells give rise to plasma cells whose antibodies circulate in the body fluids, which is the humoral arm, while T cells act directly on infected, cancerous or transplanted cells, which is the cell mediated arm. Both branches are highly specific, so the third option is wrong, and both certainly involve immune cells. The two arms cooperate, since helper T cells are needed to activate most B cells.