Immune Tolerance
| Definition: |
The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (fetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc. |
| Notes: |
do not confuse X ref IMMUNOSUPPRESSION (PHYSIOLOGY) with the Cat E immunol technique IMMUNOSUPPRESSION: Manual 28.21.1 |
| Also Called: |
Immunosuppression (Physiology) |
Immune Tolerance Categories.
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Clonal Anergy - Functional inactivation of T- or B-lymphocytes rendering them incapable of eliciting an immune response to antigen. This occurs through different mechanisms in the two kinds of lymphocytes and can contribute to SELF TOLERANCE. |
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Clonal Deletion - Removal, via CELL DEATH, of immature lymphocytes that interact with antigens during maturation. For T-lymphocytes this occurs in the thymus and ensures that mature T-lymphocytes are self tolerant. B-lymphocytes may also undergo clonal deletion. |
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Self Tolerance - The normal lack of the ability to produce an immunological response to autologous (self) antigens. A breakdown of self tolerance leads to autoimmune diseases. The ability to recognize the difference between self and non-self is the prime function of the immune system. |
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Tachyphylaxis - Rapidly decreasing response to a drug or physiologically active agent after administration of a few doses. In immunology, it is the rapid immunization against the effect of toxic doses of an extract or serum by previous injection of small doses. (Dorland, 28th ed) |
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Transplantation Tolerance - An induced state of non-reactivity to grafted tissue from a donor organism that would ordinarily trigger a cell-mediated or humoral immune response. |
Immune Tolerance Definitions and Terms
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