On the definition of a criterion of immunogenicity

Thomas Pradeu (1) , Edgardo Carosella

1 IHPST - Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques

The main objective of immunology is to establish why and when an immune response occurs, that is, to determine a criterion of immunogenicity. According to the consensus view, the proper criterion of immunogenicity lies in the discrimination between self and nonself. Here we challenge this consensus by suggesting a simpler and more comprehensive criterion, the criterion of continuity. Moreover, we show that this criterion may be considered as an interpretation of the immune "self." We conclude that immunologists can continue to speak of the self, provided that they admit that the self/nonself discrimination is not an adequate criterion of immunogenicity.

Mots clés: philosophy of biology

Domaines: Histoire, Philosophie et Sociologie des sciences

Thomas Pradeu, Edgardo Carosella. On the definition of a criterion of immunogenicity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2006, 103 (47), pp.1785-1786. ⟨10.1073/pnas.0608683103⟩. ⟨halshs-00790957⟩