Clonal selection and learning in the antibody system

K Rajewsky - Nature, 1996 - nature.com
K Rajewsky
Nature, 1996nature.com
Each antibody-producing B cell makes antibodies of unique specificity, reflecting a series of
ordered gene rearrangements which must be successfully performed if the cell is to survive.
A second selection process occurs during immune responses in which a new antibody
repertoire is generated through somatic hypermutation. Here only mutants binding antigen
with high affinity survive to become memory cells. Cells expressing autoreactive receptors
are counter-selected at both stages. This stringent positive and negative selection allows the …
Abstract
Each antibody-producing B cell makes antibodies of unique specificity, reflecting a series of ordered gene rearrangements which must be successfully performed if the cell is to survive. A second selection process occurs during immune responses in which a new antibody repertoire is generated through somatic hypermutation. Here only mutants binding antigen with high affinity survive to become memory cells. Cells expressing autoreactive receptors are counter-selected at both stages. This stringent positive and negative selection allows the generation and diversification of cells while rigorously controlling their specificity.
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