3 ms·

I have been asking the very same questions, especially the (2). So far, nobody has been able to provide a satisfying answer.

• fabian2k 6y ago
  The simplistic answer is that the immune system tries out new antigen-detecting cells in a safe environment before letting them run around with a loaded gun. Any cell that activates in that safe environment is destroyed, as it recognized one of your own antigens. The other mechanism is that the immune system doesn't react only to foreign antigens, there also needs to be some general activation of the immune system in that area for a real response. The full answer is that this is really, really complex like pretty much everything involving the immune system. And auto-immune diseases indicate that the immune system doesn't always get this right.
  • tboyd47 6y ago
    How is that general activation achieved in the case of this mRNA vaccine and the others that will surely follow?
    • fabian2k 6y ago
      RNA itself is suspicious because it's a major component of many viruses. So some kinds of RNA will activate the innate immune system strongly.
      • tboyd47 6y ago
        That's really interesting and confirmed with some light searching. Thanks!
• rolph 6y ago
  there is a system homologous to machine learning 2factor authentication. in very loose terms both keys must be presented while the immune system is in training, the instances where protiens are expressed with out cell surface recognition molecules in proximity are invalid thus foriegn, and memory immunity to this "failed login" is maintained. when both factors [protien plus recognition] are present constituitively over the course of development the immune response is squelched. this is known as central tolerance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_tolerance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_tolerance