receptor editing receptor editing receptor editing is a process that occurs during the maturation of b cells, which are part of the adaptive immune system. this process forms part of central tolerance to attempt to change the specificity of the antigen receptor of self reactive immature b-cells, in order to rescue them from programmed cell death, called apoptosis. it is thought that 20-50% of all peripheral naive b cells have undergone receptor editing making it the most common method of removing self reactive b cells. during maturation in the bone marrow, b cells are tested for interaction with self antigens, which is called negative selection. if the maturing b cells strongly interact with these self antigens, they undergo death by apoptosis. negative selection is important to avoid the production of b cells that could cause autoimmune diseases. they can avoid apoptosis by modifying the sequence of light chain v and j genes (components of the antigen receptor) so that it has a different specificity and may not recognize self antigens anymore. this process of changing the specificity of the immature b cell receptor is called receptor editing.