Question

Where does negative selection of T cells occur?

a) In the peripheral lymph nodes.
b) In the spleen.
c) In the bone marrow.
d) In the Peyer's patches.
e) In the thymus.

Answer 1

Negative selection of T cells occurs in the thymus, where self-reactive T cells are eliminated to ensure central tolerance and preventing autoimmunity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The site of negative selection of T cells is the thymus. During this process, T cells that bind to self-antigens presented by professional antigen-presenting cells are eliminated through apoptosis, ensuring that only T cells tolerant of the body's own tissues mature and leave the thymus. This step is crucial to prevent autoimmune reactions and to maintain central tolerance.

The thymus is therefore the correct answer, corresponding to option (e) in the multiple choice question provided. B cells, on the other hand, undergo negative selection in the bone marrow, which is a different process involving B cell receptors.