How does immune system distinguish "self" and &quo

[prilla]

How does immune system distinguish "self" and "non self"?

Is it because the antibodies are produced according to the combinations of some special genes ? or because even though there are antibodies that can bind the body's own proteins ,some other factors prevent them from destorying the body cells?

[david23]

During development, your bone marrow for B cells and Thymus for t cells undergo a process of clonal selection.
Those that recognize self are destroyed by apoptosis. Situations where that doesnt work are the autoimmune diseases. This is way too vague. I would be happy to give u a detailed process involved which cytokines and costimulatory molecules involved if you want.

[sdekivit]

not all are destroyed !!! some go into anergy and can indeed cause auto-immune disorders when stimulated in the periphery.

[Dr.Stein]

Yes, I always like the word "anergy"