Central tolerance

In immunology, central tolerance (also known as negative selection) is the process of eliminating any developing T or B lymphocytes that are autoreactive, i.e. reactive to the body itself.[1] Through elimination of autoreactive lymphocytes, tolerance ensures that the immune system does not attack self peptides.[2] Lymphocyte maturation (and central tolerance) occurs in primary lymphoid organs such as the bone marrow and the thymus. In mammals, B cells mature in the bone marrow and T cells mature in the thymus.[1]

Central tolerance is not perfect, so peripheral tolerance exists as a secondary mechanism to ensure that T and B cells are not self-reactive once they leave primary lymphoid organs.[3][page needed] Peripheral tolerance is distinct from central tolerance in that it occurs once developing immune cells exit primary lymphoid organs (the thymus and bone-marrow), prior to their export into the periphery.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Owen JA, Punt J, Stranford SA, Jones PP, Kuby J (2013). Kuby immunology (7th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman. ISBN 978-1-4292-1919-8. OCLC 820117219.
  2. ^ Romagnani S (2006). "Immunological tolerance and autoimmunity". Internal and Emergency Medicine. 1 (3): 187–196. doi:10.1007/bf02934736. PMID 17120464. S2CID 27585046.
  3. ^ Janeway Jr CA, Travers P, Walport M, Shlomchik MJ (2001). Immunobiology 5: The Immune System in Health and Disease (5th ed.). New York: Garland. ISBN 978-0-8153-3642-6. OCLC 45708106.