7.6: 5F. Immune System Recognition
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- 132817
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In this last chapter on binding, we will consider the daunting task faced by the immune system - to recognize all possible "foreign" molecules and react to them, either by targeting them for elimination, or, paradoxically, to recognize them but not react to them (a process called tolerance). The same can be said of "self-molecules". The immune system must recognize them but not respond to them, otherwise autoimmune disease might arise in which the body's powerful immune system targets self.