title: T cell tolerance to the skin: a central role for central tolerance.
abstract: T cell tolerance to self-antigens is believed to be achieved in a two-step process. The first step, called central tolerance, takes place in the thymus. The second step takes place outside the thymus in secondary lymphoid organs. One may ask why two mechanisms are needed to insure T cell tolerance. These two mechanisms share redundant functions and dysfunctions, leading to T cell-mediated autoimmune syndromes. By reviewing the literature on relevant animal models for T cell tolerance and our own recent findings, we are providing evidences that only central tolerance is acting for the skin.
authors.affiliation: Louis Jeantet Skin Cancer Laboratory, Department of Patho-Immunology, University Medical Center, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Prisca
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Contassot
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018448:Models, Immunological; D017634:Self Tolerance; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*