IUBio

Recognition of self vs non-self by macrophages?

collins%xtal220 at HARVARD.HARVARD.EDU collins%xtal220 at HARVARD.HARVARD.EDU
Tue Nov 8 08:10:38 EST 1994


Okay, I think we all agree and understand that the mechanisms for presenting
self or foreign peptides are interrelated and that macrophages are no
different in that respect than any other APC.  The question has strayed from
that point I think. The question is: How do macrophages recognize a body to
be phagocytosed? While I agree that other systems can make it easy for the
macrophage (ie recognition by antibodies), this requires that the immune
system have previous knowledge of the foreign particle. Certainly it is true
that there will be cross-reactive antibodies around, but this is like the old
arguement about the chicken and the egg. To anthropomorphize a bit, don't y
believe that there must be a mechanism for the macrophage to make up its own
mind?
-ed

Edward J. Collins                            
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology                         
Harvard University				        @@***@@      
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phone (617)495-5043                                     =======      
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This is supposed to be a class I MHC with a peptide. ----    ----  
	No wonder my parents suggested Art school was a bad idea.












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