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Conceptual aspects of self and nonself discrimination
Segundo Gonzalez1, Ana Pilar González-Rodríguez, Beatriz Suárez-Álvarez
1Functional Biology Department; Instituto Universitario Oncologico del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA); Universidad de Oviedo; Oviedo, Spain.
Self/Nonself
|July 22, 2011
Summary
The immune system distinguishes self from non-self using germ-line encoded receptors and adaptable receptors. Self/non-self discrimination relies on activation thresholds, impacting autoimmune diseases and cancer immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Pathogen Recognition
Background:
- Pathogen recognition mechanisms are diverse due to microbial complexity.
- Innate immunity uses germ-line encoded receptors for non-self molecules and cellular changes during infection.
- Adaptive immunity generates diverse receptors to recognize non-self antigens, requiring self-tolerance mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the mechanisms of pathogen recognition in innate and adaptive immunity.
- To understand the basis of self vs. non-self discrimination.
- To investigate the implications of immune recognition thresholds in autoimmune reactions and cancer immunity.
Main Methods:
- Review of established immunological principles of pathogen recognition.
- Analysis of germ-line encoded and somatically generated immune receptors.
- Examination of activation thresholds in immune responses.
Main Results:
- Self and non-self discrimination is not absolute but depends on activation thresholds.
- Deviations in activation thresholds can lead to autoimmune reactions.
- Cancer cells present neoantigens and non-mutated self molecules, influencing immune recognition and response.
Conclusions:
- Immune recognition relies on a balance between detecting foreign threats and maintaining self-tolerance.
- Dysregulation of immune activation thresholds contributes to autoimmune diseases.
- The immune system's response to cancer is complex, involving recognition of both mutated and non-mutated self molecules.
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