Osmosis video - Contracting the immune response and peripheral tolerance

Peripheral tolerance refers to immunological tolerance developed after autoreactive T and B cells mature and enter the periphery. It enables the immune system to recognize and tolerate self-antigens or non-harmful foreign antigens in the body. Peripheral tolerance involves the suppression of autoreactive cells by 'regulatory' T cells, and the generation of hyporesponsiveness (anergy) in lymphocytes which encounter antigens in the absence of the co-stimulatory signals that accompany inflammation, or in the presence of co-inhibitory signals.