Arising in the mucous membranes, these white patches on the tongue, gums, cheeks, or elsewhere inside the mouth have the potential to develop into squamous cell carcinoma. They may be caused by sources of chronic irritation, such as habitual alcohol consumption or tobacco use, or rough edges on teeth or dentures.
Virus infection in vertebrates results in two general types of immune response. The first is a rapid-onset innate response against the virus, which involves the synthesis of proteins called interferons and the stimulation of natural killer lymphocytes.
The adaptive immune response can be either humoral or cell-mediated. The humoral response is mediated by B lymphocytes, which release antibodies specific to the infectious agent. The cell-mediated response involves the binding of cytotoxic T lymphocytes to foreign or infected cells, followed by the lysis of these cells.he components of the innate immune system provide a first line of defense against infection. Physical barriers to infection include skin, which prevents pathogen penetration, and bodily fluids like mucus, which collect and clear pathogens.