Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

10.6K
T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
10.6K
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

11.7K
The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
11.7K
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

6.4K
The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
6.4K
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

803
An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and...
803
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

76.2K
Overview
76.2K
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity01:20

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

1.5K
The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells impair tumor growth through IL-3 and TNF-dependent vascular damage.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

High-Plex Tissue Imaging with Conventional Immunofluorescence Platforms and Open-Source Software via Iterative Bleaching Extends Multiplexity (IBEX).

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026
Same author

Agonistic anti-CD40 antibody treatment converts resident regulatory T cells into activated type 1 effectors within the tumor microenvironment.

Immunity·2026
Same author

Immunological knowledge.

Nature immunology·2026
Same author

Tumour-brain crosstalk restrains cancer immunity via a sensory-sympathetic axis.

Nature·2026
Same author

The IBEX knowledge-base a community resource enabling adoption and development of immunofluorescence imaging methods.

eLife·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 21, 2025

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures
10:10

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures

Published on: August 6, 2016

8.4K

Mesoscale T cell antigen discrimination emerges from intercellular feedback.

Harikesh S Wong1, Ronald N Germain1

  • 1Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1892, USA.

Trends in Immunology
|September 8, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Mature T cells distinguish foreign from self-antigens via a post-activation control system involving multiple cell types and negative feedback from regulatory T cells (Tregs). This system regulates T cell responses and autoimmune disease risk.

More Related Videos

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
09:47

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

Published on: November 21, 2014

13.2K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
06:42

Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration

Published on: May 24, 2024

1.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 21, 2025

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures
10:10

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures

Published on: August 6, 2016

8.4K
Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
09:47

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

Published on: November 21, 2014

13.2K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
06:42

Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration

Published on: May 24, 2024

1.8K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Systems Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Mature T cells must differentiate between foreign and self-antigens to maintain host defense and prevent autoimmunity.
  • Existing research primarily focuses on short-term, localized mechanisms of T cell activation and discrimination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a higher-level, post-activation discriminatory boundary for T cell responses operating over broader spatiotemporal scales.
  • To elucidate the role of intercellular communication and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in this discriminatory process.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual modeling of intercellular circuits and feedback loops.
  • Analysis of nonlinear dynamics within a multi-cell type system.

Main Results:

  • A post-activation discriminatory boundary emerges from coordinated communication among at least three cell types.
  • Intercellular circuits, including Treg-mediated negative feedback, govern this boundary.
  • System nonlinearities can amplify initial cellular imbalances, influencing T cell response thresholds.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed control system provides a framework for understanding T cell discrimination at larger scales.
  • Dysregulation of this system, driven by nonlinear dynamics, can increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.