Induction of autoantibodies to red blood cells by polyclonal B-cell activators

THE ability to distinguish self from non-self is a fundamental property of the lymphoid system. One hypothesis for immunocyte triggering1 proposes that the encounter between antigen and immunoglobulin receptors results in irreversible tolerance, whereas activation requires additional signals, thus ensuring that tolerance to self-antigens will always be the first and easiest event to achieve. An alternative view is that the self-non-self …