| First Author | Yan J | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | J Immunol | Volume | 177 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 4481-7 |
| PubMed ID | 16982884 | Mgi Jnum | J:139321 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3807746 | Doi | 10.4049/jimmunol.177.7.4481 |
| Citation | Yan J, et al. (2006) B cells drive early T cell autoimmunity in vivo prior to dendritic cell-mediated autoantigen presentation. J Immunol 177(7):4481-7 |
| abstractText | Both B cells and dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated as autoantigen-presenting cells in the activation of self-reactive T cells. However, most self-proteins are ubiquitously and/or developmentally expressed, making it difficult to determine the source and the exposure of autoantigens to APCs in a controlled manner. In this study, we have used an Ig transgenic mouse model to examine the mechanisms by which B cells and other APCs acquire and present lupus autoantigens in vivo. Targeting a lupus autoantigen, the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle D protein, to the BCR activates autoreactive T cells in the periphery. Our in vivo studies demonstrate that autoantigen-specific B cells, when present in the repertoire, are the first subset of APCs to capture and present self-proteins for activating T cells. Thereafter, DCs acquire self-Ag and become effective APCs for stimulating the same subsets of autoreactive T cells. This mechanism provides one explanation of how early steps in autoimmunity can focus responses, via BCR, at a small group of self-proteins among the total milieu of intracellular self-proteins. Subsequently, DCs and other professional APCs may then amplify and perpetuate the autoimmune T cell response. |
