Discuss the phenomena of immunological tolerance and autoimmune disease
What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER: Immunological tolerance is the phenomenon that protects the body's own tissues from
attack by the immune system. Self-antigens are typically not recognized as foreign by B
and T cells, and do not induce an immune response. Those B and T cells that do react with
self-antigens are destroyed during their differentiation (eliminated through apoptosis or
inactivation). This occurs throughout the lifetime of the individual. Failure of this
immunological tolerance results in autoimmune disease, which is the production of
antibodies against the molecules of the body. In most cases, the effects of such anti-self
antibodies are mild. However, in about 5 to 10 percent of the human population, they can
cause serious problems. Autoimmune diseases include type I diabetes (antibodies against
pancreatic beta cells producing insulin),systemic lupus erythematosus (antibodies against
blood cells and platelets, and potentially the heart and kidneys), rheumatoid arthritis (selfattack
on joints), and multiple sclerosis (antibodies against the myelin sheaths surrounding
neurons).
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