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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Examination of Thymic Positive and Negative Selection by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 8, 2012
Tolerance: a case of self/not-self discrimination maintained by clonal deletion?
1Division of Molecular Medicine, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra.
The clonal selection theory faces challenges with modern antigen presentation. Matzinger's "danger" model offers a new path for controlling autoimmunity through enhanced immune regulation with adjuvant therapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Clonal selection theory posits self/not-self discrimination and clonal deletion for self-tolerance.
- Negative selection in the thymus removes self-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-reactive T-cells via deletion.
- Bretscher/Cohn theory extended self/not-self discrimination throughout life, requiring associative recognition.
Observation:
- Modern antigen presentation, recognizing MHC-peptide complexes, abandons the associative recognition requirement of Bretscher/Cohn theory.
- This shift makes Bretscher/Cohn models inadequate for explaining self/not-self discrimination in antigen-presenting cell (APC) function.
- Matzinger's 'danger' metaphor shifts focus from self/not-self to a danger-based immune system model.
Findings:
- The 'danger' model provides a theoretical framework that moves beyond self/not-self discrimination.
- This theoretical advancement suggests a novel strategy for managing autoimmunity.
Implications:
- Autoimmunity control can be approached by strengthening immune regulation.
- Adjuvant therapy presents a potential method for enhancing immune regulation in autoimmune conditions.
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