Clonal deletion

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In

immunocompetent lymphocytes.[1][2] This prevents recognition and destruction of self host cells, making it a type of negative selection or central tolerance. Central tolerance prevents B and T lymphocytes from reacting to self. Thus, clonal deletion can help protect individuals against autoimmunity. Clonal deletion is thought to be the most common type of negative selection.[1] It is one method of immune tolerance
.

Discovery and function

A visual representation of the process of clonal deletion in the primary lymphoid organs

primary lymphoid organs.[3][4] Those cells that demonstrate a high affinity for this self antigen are often subsequently deleted so they cannot create progeny, which helps protect the host against autoimmunity.[2][3] Thus, the host develops a tolerance for this antigen, or a self tolerance.[3]

Location

B and T lymphocytes are tested for their affinity for self

T regulatory cells to prevent the host from obtaining an autoimmune disease.[2]
However, for both B and T cells in the primary lymphoid organs, clonal deletion is the most common form of negative selection.

B cells

B cells demonstrating high affinity for self antigen can undergo clonal deletion within the bone marrow.[1][3] This occurs after the functional B-cell receptor (BCR) is assembled.[1] It is possible for B cells with high self affinity to go undeleted because they require activation signals and stimulation from autoreactive T cells. Such T cells are often removed via clonal deletion, leaving autoreactive B cells unstimulated and unactivated.[1] These B cells do not pose a threat, even in the periphery, because they cannot be activated without an autoreactive T cell to stimulate them.

T cells

Between 2% and 5% of T cells develop auto-reactive receptors. Most of these undergo negative selection by clonal deletion.[1]

Thymic cortex

T cells that show a high affinity for self MHC/peptide complexes can undergo clonal deletion in the thymus.[1][3] Thymic dendritic cells and macrophages appear to be responsible for the apoptotic signals sent to autoreactive T cells in the thymic cortex.[1][6]

Thymic medulla

T cells also have the opportunity to undergo clonal deletion within the thymic medulla if they express high affinity for self MHC/peptide complexes.

Epithelial cells are responsible for clonal deletion within the medulla.[1][6] These medullary epithelial cells express an autoimmune regulator (AIRE) which allows these cells to present proteins specific to other parts of the body to T lymphocytes.[1][2][6]
This helps eliminate autoreactive T cells that recognize a protein from a specific body part.

Complete vs. incomplete clonal deletion

A visual representation of incomplete and complete clonal deletion

Complete clonal deletion results in apoptosis of all B and T lymphocytes expressing high affinity for self antigen.[3] Incomplete clonal deletion results in apoptosis of most autoreactive B and T lymphocytes.[3] Complete clonal deletion can lead to opportunities for molecular mimicry, which has adverse effects for the host.[3] Therefore, incomplete clonal deletion allows for a balance between the host’s ability to recognize foreign antigens and self antigens.[3]

Methods of exploitation

Molecular mimicry

Clonal deletion provides an incentive for microorganisms to develop epitopes similar to proteins found within the host. Because most autoresponsive cells undergo clonal deletion, this allows microorganisms with epitopes similar to host antigen to escape recognition and detection by T and B lymphocytes.[3] However, if detected, this can lead to an autoimmune response because of the similarity of the epitopes on the microorganism and host antigen. Examples of this are seen in Streptococcus pyogenes and Borrelia burgdorferi.[3] It is possible, but uncommon for molecular mimicry to lead to an autoimmune disease.[3]

Superantigens

Superantigens are composed of viral or bacterial proteins and can hijack the clonal deletion process when expressed in the thymus because they resemble the T-cell receptor (TCR) interaction with self MHC/peptides.[1] Thus, through this process, superantigens can effectively prevent maturation of cognate T cells.

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 820117219.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  2. ^
    OCLC 948563239.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  3. ^ .
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External links