3 ms·
> But why doesn't the larger keychain also increase the chances of auto-immune diseases, when they happen to fit our own locks? The process that generates immu
by nullc 7y ago
> But why doesn't the larger keychain also increase the chances of auto-immune diseases, when they happen to fit our own locks?
The process that generates immune cells tests them for autoimmune reactivity and aggressively culls ones that are.
- nomel 7y agoCould you provide the name for this, or something I could search for? This is fascinating.
- rcthompson 7y agoLook up the function of the thymus in T-cell development and selection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus#Function https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus#Function
- alextheparrot 7y agoThe term is "Central Tolerance". The Thymus (Which someone else mentioned) effectively checks the following: (1) Does the cell react to an antigen (Foreign particle) [β-selection] (2) Does the cell still work with the immune system (Can it bind to the cells it needs to bind to once it finds the antigen) [Positive Selection] (3) Does the cell recognize only foreign particles and not the body itself [Central Tolerance / Negative Selection]
- mirimir 7y agoSure, but it doesn't always work :( I had the misfortune of blowing out my right knee and acquiring a chlamydia infection ~simultaneously. And then developed acute rheumatoid arthritis. Which has progressed, albeit slowly, ever since. So it goes.