Receptor editing

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Receptor editing is a process that occurs during the maturation of B-cells, which are part of the adaptive immune system. This process has the aim to change the specificity of the antigen receptor of immature B-cells, in order to rescue them from programmed cell death, called apoptosis.

During maturation in the bone marrow, B-cells are tested for interaction with self antigens, which is called negative selection. If the maturing B-cells strongly interact with these self antigens, they undergo death by apoptosis. Negative selection is important to avoid the production of B-cells that could cause auto-immune diseases. They can avoid apoptosis by modifying the gene for their antigen receptor, so that it has a different specificity and may not recognize self antigens anymore. This process of changing the specificity of the immature B-cell receptor is called receptor editing.

[edit] References

Abbas, Abul K. (2006-2007). Basic immunology (2nd updated edition). Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 1416029745.