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Positive and negative selection of T cells.

Timothy K Starr, Stephen C Jameson, and Kristin A Hogquist

Immunology (2003) PMID 12414722

A functional immune system requires the selection of T lymphocytes expressing receptors that are major histocompatibility complex restricted but tolerant to self-antigens. This selection occurs predominantly in the thymus, where lymphocyte precursors first assemble a surface receptor. In this review we summarize the current state of the field regarding the natural ligands and molecular factors required for positive and negative selection and discuss a model for how these disparate outcomes can be signaled via the same receptor. We also discuss emerging data on the selection of regulatory T cells. Such cells require a high-affinity interaction with self-antigens, yet differentiate into regulatory cells instead of being eliminated.

Referenced by 2 articles

DOI: 10.1146/annurev.immunol.21.120601.141107
Version: za2963e q8za1 q8zbf q8zc8 q8zde q8zee q8zff q8zga

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