The Tolerant Immune System: Biological Significance and Clinical Implications of T Cell Tolerance

摘要

Background: T cell tolerance both at thymic and peripheral levels is a mechanism of protection finalized to eradicate autoreactive T cell clones and/or to maintain immune homeostasis, especially, postnatally. Central tolerance occurs in the thymic medulla via a mechanism of negative selection which leads to the eradication of autoreactive T cell clones.