The acquisition of protective immunity is essential for survival. Protective itmllunity can be divided in innate immunity and acquired immunity. These two parts of the immune system have evolved to closely interact. Cells of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, recognize potentially hazardous substances by their particular carbohydrate signature using germline-encoded receptors. In addition, innate imlllunity is thought to playa major role during the early phases of the immune response as well as in activating and regulating the acquired immune response. Acquired immunity mediates antigen-specific immune responses directed against those antigens selected by the innate immune response to be potentially noxious . The cells which are essential in effecting the acquired immune responses are the Band T lymphocytes. These cells specifically recognize foreign antigcns using their antigen receptors, the B cell receptor (BCR) and the T cell receptor (TCR), respectively. These antigen receptors are encoded by genes which are produced by somatic gene rearrangement processes. The interaction between the two patis of the immune system is essential both for the maintenance of immunity (the presence of an immune response) towards infectious agents and for the maintenance of tolerance (the absence of an immune response) to the body's own tissues. Tolerance can be divided into central tolerance, which is implemented during the differentiation of T lymphocytes in the thymus, and peripheral tolerance, which is implemented in the periphery.

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Trustfonds Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, KNAWfVan Walree Fonds, NWO
R. Benner (Robbert) , H.F.J. Savelkoul (Huub)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/20402
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Nawijn, M. (2000, December 6). Regulation of cell-fate decisions in T lymphocyte differenttiation. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/20402