Year: 1995
Type: letter
Abstract: One of the most basal requirements of the immune system is that it must be capable of specifically recognizing and responding to foreign antigens, while remaining indifferent to self-components. For T-cells the antigen recognizing function is fulfilled by the TcR. Because of the stochastic nature of antigen receptor formation, selection for appropriate TeR is needed. These selection processes take place in the thymus, presumably in complex interactions with the thymic stromal cells. Negative selection (clonal deletion) prevents self-reactive T-cells from becoming auto-aggressive. Positive selection (clonal selection) prevents the accumulation of useless T-cells with either no antigen receptor at all, or with for the organism useless receptors.
Source: PubMed
Author: T M Breit
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2125936907