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By
Delphine Mérino, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia,
Philippe Bouillet, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia
Apoptosis is essential in the generation and function of the immune system. Many of the millions of T and B cells that are produced daily in the primary lymphoid organs are destined to die after a sorting process that keeps only cells that meet strict selection criteria. Successful cells receive a survival signal and emigrate to the periphery, where they will become the many soldiers that protect the organism against viruses, bacteria, and other unfriendly agents. In response to infection or immunization, antigen-specific cells become activated and proliferate, and some differentiate into effector cells. When the infection battle is won, most of these cells are eliminated by apoptosis to prevent their accumulation and the potential problems that it would cause. Defects in the apoptotic process in the hematopoietic system can promote autoimmunity, whereas too much apoptosis promotes lymphopenia and immunodeficiency. This review focuses on the two main pathways of apoptosis and their specific roles during the development and the function of the main cell populations of the immune system.
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