Immune Tolerance

Immune tolerance is the process by which the immune system learns to distinguish between self and non-self. This process prevents the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues.

Central tolerance is the type of immune tolerance that is responsible for preventing the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues. This process occurs in the thymus, where immature T cells are tested for their ability to recognize self-antigens. T cells that react to self-antigens are deleted, while T cells that do not react to self-antigens are allowed to mature and enter the periphery.

Peripheral tolerance is the type of immune tolerance that is responsible for preventing the immune system from attacking foreign antigens that are presented in a non-inflammatory context. This process occurs in the periphery, where mature T cells are exposed to foreign antigens. T cells that react to foreign antigens in a non-inflammatory context are deleted, while T cells that do not react to foreign antigens are allowed to survive.

Natural tolerance is the type of immune tolerance that is responsible for preventing the immune system from attacking commensal bacteria in the gut. This process is mediated by regulatory T cells, which suppress the immune response to commensal bacteria.

Acquired tolerance is the type of immune tolerance that is responsible for preventing the immune system from attacking food antigens. This process is mediated by regulatory T cells, which suppress the immune response to food antigens.

Regulatory T cells play a critical role in immune tolerance by suppressing the immune response to self-antigens. This prevents the immune system from attacking the body's own tissues.

Dendritic cells play a critical role in immune tolerance by presenting self-antigens to T cells in the thymus. This allows T cells to learn to distinguish between self and non-self.

The thymus plays a critical role in immune tolerance by producing, maturing, and selecting T cells that do not react to self-antigens.

The spleen plays a critical role in immune tolerance by filtering blood for foreign antigens, producing antibodies, and storing immune cells.

The lymph nodes play a critical role in immune tolerance by filtering lymph for foreign antigens, producing antibodies, and storing immune cells.

The GALT plays a critical role in immune tolerance by preventing the immune system from attacking commensal bacteria, producing antibodies against food antigens, and storing immune cells.

The skin plays a critical role in immune tolerance by preventing the entry of foreign antigens into the body, producing antimicrobial peptides, and storing immune cells.

The respiratory tract plays a critical role in immune tolerance by filtering inhaled air for foreign antigens, producing antibodies against inhaled antigens, and storing immune cells.

The urogenital tract plays a critical role in immune tolerance by preventing the entry of foreign antigens into the body, producing antibodies against sexually transmitted infections, and storing immune cells.

The eye plays a critical role in immune tolerance by preventing the entry of foreign antigens into the eye, producing antibodies against eye infections, and storing immune cells.