Mechanisms of Immune Tolerance

Immune tolerance refers to the immune system's ability to distinguish self from non-self antigens and prevent harmful immune responses against self-antigens, thereby avoiding autoimmune reactions. Several mechanisms contribute to immune tolerance, including central tolerance in the thymus and bone marrow, peripheral tolerance mediated by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and anergized lymphocytes, and the induction of tolerance through mechanisms like clonal deletion and ignorance. Central tolerance ensures the elimination of self-reactive T cells during their maturation phase, while peripheral tolerance mechanisms function outside primary lymphoid organs to suppress autoimmunity. Regulatory T cells play a central role in maintaining immune tolerance by suppressing effector T cell responses and promoting immune homeostasis. Understanding the mechanisms of immune tolerance is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies to modulate immune responses in autoimmune diseases and transplantation.