The differential signaling hypothesis is one of two models that attempt to explain how humans have immunity despite such aggressive selection (positive and negative) to kill developing T cells during their maturation process. The other model is the differential avidity hypothesis.
The differential signaling hypothesis states that the nature of the signal from the receptor, instead of the number of receptors bound, distinguishes positive from negative selection. Under this hypothesis:
- MHC/Self peptides that deliver incomplete activating signals result in positive selection. - MHC/Self peptides that deliver complete activating signals result in negative selection.Famous quotes containing the words differential and/or hypothesis:
“But how is one to make a scientist understand that there is something unalterably deranged about differential calculus, quantum theory, or the obscene and so inanely liturgical ordeals of the precession of the equinoxes.”
—Antonin Artaud (1896–1948)
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—Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre (b. 1929)