It's complicated

The nature had time to build complex structures. This can be seen in biochemistry - that is developing targeted drugs. New molecules which dock, the only way they can influence:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Thelock-and-key-theory_fig3_359240621  

  

In the 'worst' case this might be sequential - resulting complex reactions, reminding ladder logic (like in machinery). 

https://ladderlogicworld.com/ladder-logic-basics/  

  

Conditions... IF A = TRUE   THEN Y = TRUE , etc. >> a ladder logic.

Connections are complicated and they go beyond layman's understanding, but graphs may help, f.i. T cells:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1190379/full  

"Cytokine release syndrome and cancer immunotherapies – historical challenges and promising futures"

  

A. The first signal for T-cell activation is provided by the binding of T Cell Receptor (TCR) with the antigen (Ag) presented by the Antigen Presenting Cell (APC) in the context of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). The second signal for T-cell activation comes from co-stimulation whereby CD28 on naïve T cells engages with CD80/CD86 on the APC. etc.

B. Immune Checkpoints - Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) present on the surface of activated T cells interacts with Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) overexpressed on the surface of APC or cancer cell and suppresses the immune system. 

"Immune checkpoints are receptors expressed by the immune cells and act like an on/off switch to maintain the homeostatic balance of immune system suppression and upregulation. They prevent the overactivation of the immune system. However, cancer cells are known to evade the immune system by enhancing the immune checkpoint activation. Immune checkpoint inhibitors were developed to improve the anti-tumor response by the immune system... They have been effective in treating solid cancers. However, only a subset of patients respond to treatment. The underlying causes for patient specificity are currently under investigation, as are biomarkers of response. Checkpoint inhibitors may be useful for the recruitment of immune cells to the tumor microenvironment in combination with either bispecific T cell engagers or CAR-Ts to treat disease more effectively." 

AND THE BATTLE IS GOING ON...