| First Author | Victoratos P | Year | 2009 |
| Journal | Immunity | Volume | 30 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 130-42 |
| PubMed ID | 19119026 | Mgi Jnum | J:143728 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3828877 | Doi | 10.1016/j.immuni.2008.10.019 |
| Citation | Victoratos P, et al. (2009) Induction of autoantibody-mediated spontaneous arthritis critically depends on follicular dendritic cells. Immunity 30(1):130-42 |
| abstractText | Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are important for the induction of protective T cell-dependent humoral responses, but their contribution to autoimmunity remains elusive. Here, gene-targeted interruption of FDC development was combined with the K/BxN mouse model of arthritis. We found that FDCs were essential for autoantibody production through two distinct but cooperative functions. In a T cell-independent fashion, FDCs loaded with autoantigen-containing immune complexes supported germinal center (GC) B cell development. Additionally, the integrity of FDC networks was required for the recruitment of arthritogenic follicular helper T cells, a process that drove T-B cell interactions and productive GC reactivity. Importantly, pharmacological interference in the maintenance of FDCs ameliorated disease development, suggesting the FDC as a potential target for dampening autoimmunity. |
