Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cel

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.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2022
The correct answer is D) They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.
B cells and T cells are lymphocytes, which are key components of the adaptive immune system. Their primary role is to recognize specific pathogens (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) and mount a targeted immune response to eliminate them and prevent diseases.
B cells produce antibodies that neutralize pathogens or mark them for destruction. T cells directly kill infected cells (cytotoxic T cells), help other immune cells (helper T cells), or regulate the immune response (regulatory T cells).
While immune responses involving B and T cells can contribute to inflammation (which is part of healing but also causes pain), their main function is not to alleviate pain or inflammation directly (Option B). They are crucial for developing immunity, not immunosuppression (Option C), though certain subsets of T cells are regulatory. While they are involved in responses to allergens, their role in protecting against pathogens is their fundamental and primary function (Option A vs. D).