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T cell tolerance. Giles F. Filley Lecture
P Marrack1, J McCormack, J Callahan
1Department of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver.
Chest
|February 1, 1993
Summary
T cell tolerance mechanisms prevent autoimmunity by eliminating or inactivating self-reactive T cells. However, incomplete tolerance allows autoreactive T cells to cause autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- T cell tolerance is crucial for preventing autoimmune diseases.
- Mechanisms include T cell death or inactivation upon encountering self-antigens.
- Self-antigens are persistently present, unlike foreign antigens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the governing principles of T cell tolerance induction.
- To understand the incomplete nature of self-tolerance.
- To explore the link between autoreactive T cells and autoimmune diseases.
Main Methods:
- The abstract does not specify methods.
- Conceptual review of T cell tolerance mechanisms.
- Analysis of factors distinguishing self from non-self recognition.
Main Results:
- T cell tolerance is actively induced through cell death or inactivation.
- The default state for peripheral T cells is tolerance ('off').
- Tolerance is not absolute; autoreactive T cells against cryptic antigens exist.
Conclusions:
- Aberrant activation of autoreactive T cells, not tolerance failure, may drive autoimmune diseases.
- Understanding these mechanisms is key to developing treatments for autoimmune conditions.