| First Author | Mayer CT | Year | 2020 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 117 |
| Issue | 40 | Pages | 24957-24963 |
| PubMed ID | 32963096 | Mgi Jnum | J:296457 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6467460 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.2015372117 |
| Citation | Mayer CT, et al. (2020) An apoptosis-dependent checkpoint for autoimmunity in memory B and plasma cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117(40):24957-24963 |
| abstractText | B lymphocytes acquire self-reactivity as an unavoidable byproduct of antibody gene diversification in the bone marrow and in germinal centers (GCs). Autoreactive B cells emerging from the bone marrow are silenced in a series of well-defined checkpoints, but less is known about how self-reactivity that develops by somatic mutation in GCs is controlled. Here, we report the existence of an apoptosis-dependent tolerance checkpoint in post-GC B cells. Whereas defective GC B cell apoptosis has no measurable effect on autoantibody development, disruption of post-GC apoptosis results in accumulation of autoreactive memory B cells and plasma cells, antinuclear antibody production, and autoimmunity. The data presented shed light on mechanisms that regulate immune tolerance and the development of autoantibodies. |
