3 ms·
It’s mind blowing not only how our body mimics natural selection with B cells, but also how it generates the genetically diverse B cells in the first place. [1]
by divbzero 6y ago
It’s mind blowing not only how our body mimics natural selection with B cells, but also how it generates the genetically diverse B cells in the first place. [1]
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V(D)J_recombination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V(D)J_recombination "V(D)J recombination"
- nextos 6y agoYes, and if you have different versions of the HLA gene, you get different distributions as a result of V(D)J recombination. So, in a way, different individuals have different immune strategies. For example, super-responders to HIV tend to be HLA-B57. This HLA "version" trades better response to virus that mutate quickly for more chances of autoimmunity as thymic selection is less stringent (because HLA-B57 presents less selfpeptides in the thymus).
- DrAwdeOccarim 6y agoWoah. Thanks for sharing that. I did not know that. What a fine balance!