Self/non-self discrimination and the problem of keeping T cells alive.
Burnet appreciated the requirement for self/non-self discrimination and presciently postulated elimination of auto-aggressive cells during early life. He could not have known that, for T cells, a limited degree of autoreactivity is beneficial for the immune system. Here, we review evidence that recognition of self-components keeps T cells alive and regulates self-tolerance.
Sprent
Jonathan
J
Immunology Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia. j.sprent@garvan.org.au
Cho
Jae-Ho
JH
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D017637:Clonal Deletion / Q000276:immunology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015851:Interleukin-7; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell