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Self / Nonself Recognition
The rearrangements of antibody and TCR genes are random in that all possible (-108 in the case of antibodies and -1015 in the case of TCR) antigenic specificities are generated during maturation of the Band T cells.

Therefore the population of antigenically committed B cells produced in an animal, at the end of maturation process, contains B cells that produce antibodies against animal's own antigens (self-antigens) as well as those that produce antibodies against foreign antigens (nonself antigens).

This situation can not be allowed to persist long as it will be fatal to the animal. Therefore, an animal does not ordinarily produce antibodies against self antigens; similarly, it does not have naive T cells reactive to self-antigens. This is ensured by a selection process, in which Band T cells that are highly specific to self-antigens are eliminated.

 

  

 
 

 
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