Autoreactive B-cells

The synovial arrays were incubated with the sera from patients with early and severe RA as well as healthy patients. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that autoreactive B-cell responses for citrullinated epitopes were present in a subset of patients with early RA, features which are predictive of the development of severe RA. In contrast, autoantibodies directed against native epitopes including several human cartilage gp39 peptides and type II collagen, were associated with features predictive of less severe RA. 

Selective production of autoreactive B cells by the stimulation of prolonged abnormal autoantigens Abnormal T cell tolerance Abnormal central deletion Abnormal T cell anergy Increased activation of T helper cells Abnormalities in regulatory T cells Other immune abnormalities... 

Figure 1. Overview of B cell development. B cells are classified into different stages based on rearrangement status of the Ig HC and LC loci. Four major checkpoints for BCR repertoire selection and silencing of autoreactive B cells are indicated 1= pre-BCR checkpoint 2= immature B cell/receptor editing 3= peripheral transitional B cell 4= (lack of) second activation signal.

Shlomchik, M. J. 2008. Sites and Stages of Autoreactive B Cell Activation and Regulation. Immunity 28 18-26. 

Autoantigens. Self-antigens of the organism, which may be targets of autoimmune responses by autoreactive B cells (see -autoantibodies) or T cells, including proteins (e.g. enzymes, structural proteins), glycoproteins (e.g. ( -glycoprotein I), nucleic acids... 

Lin RH, Mamula MJ, Hardin JA, Janeway CA Jr (1991) Induction of autoreactive B cells allow priming of autoreactive T cells. J Exp Med 173 1433-1439 Lindqvist KY, Makene WJ, Shaba JK, Nantulya V (1974) Immunofiuorescence and electron microscopic studies of kidney biopsies from patients with nephrotic syndrome possibly induced by skin lightening creams containing mercury. E Afr Med J 51 168-169... 

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