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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
Apoptotic signal transduction and T cell tolerance
Martina Gatzka1, Craig M Walsh
1Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. mgatzka@uci.edu
Autoimmunity
|August 31, 2007
Summary
The immune system eliminates harmful T cells through apoptosis to prevent autoimmune diseases. This review details the molecular mechanisms of T cell deletion crucial for maintaining self-tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- The immune system employs surveillance mechanisms during T cell development to prevent autoimmunity.
- Failure in these mechanisms can lead to autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular executioners of T cell death programs.
- To discuss the role of apoptosis in T cell tolerance and autoimmune disease pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death (apoptosis).
- Analysis of T cell tolerance checkpoints (central and peripheral).
Main Results:
- Clonal deletion via apoptosis is essential for central tolerance in the thymus.
- Peripheral tolerance mechanisms include anergy, extrathymic deletion, and regulatory T cells.
- Specific apoptotic signaling pathways are critical for eliminating autoreactive T cells.
Conclusions:
- Understanding T cell deletion mechanisms is vital for comprehending autoimmune disease development.
- Molecular executioners of apoptosis play a key role in preventing self-reactivity.
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