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Control of clonal deletion in the thymus: implications for tolerance induction
1Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Tolerance to foreign antigen by means of clonal deletion in the thymus can be achieved during embryonic or neonatal life, but not easily in the adult animal. It is concluded here that an immunological control by mature T cells prevents newly acquired antigen from being permanently deposited in the adult thymus. In this way, the originally established thymic antigen discrimination can be maintained successfully. Breakdown of the control circuit should permit tolerance induction even in the adult thymus.
Tolerance to foreign antigen by means of clonal deletion in the thymus can be achieved during embryonic or neonatal life, but not easily in the adult animal. It is concluded here that an immunological control by mature T cells prevents newly acquired antigen from being permanently deposited in the adult thymus. In this way, the originally established thymic antigen discrimination can be maintained successfully. Breakdown of the control circuit should permit tolerance induction even in the adult thymus.