What process leads to the elimination of autoreactive or nonfunctional lymphocytes?

The process that leads to the elimination of autoreactive or nonfunctional lymphocytes is known as negative selection. This process occurs primarily during the development of T cells in the thymus or B cells in the bone marrow. During negative selection, developing lymphocytes that strongly recognize self-antigens undergo apoptosis, which helps to prevent autoimmune reactions. This critical step ensures that only those cells that exhibit a moderate and appropriate response to antigens are allowed to mature and enter the peripheral circulation, thus maintaining self-tolerance and protecting the body from immune-mediated damage.

Positive selection, in contrast, is the process that ensures that T cells can adequately recognize self-MHC molecules, allowing those that can perform their intended functions to survive, while others are eliminated. Apoptosis induction refers to the programmed cell death that can occur in many different contexts, but it is specifically the negative selection process that is designed to target autoreactive lymphocytes. Clonal expansion is the process by which activated lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate in response to an antigen, rather than a means of eliminating nonfunctional lymphocytes.