Efficient and selective presentation of antigen-antibody complexes by rheumatoid factor B cells.
Using Epstein-Barr virus B cell clones and antigen-specific T cell clones, we asked how antigen-antibody complexes are handled by B cells. We found that the only B cells capable of efficient presentation of antigen-antibody complexes are those that bind the complexes via membrane immunoglobulin, i.e., rheumatoid factor-producing B cells and, to a lower extent, antigen-specific B cells. On the contrary, nonspecific B cells, although capable of binding antigen-antibody complexes, fail to present them to T cells. Thus, rheumatoid factor B cells can present any antigen in the context of an immune complex and be triggered by T cells specific for a variety of foreign antigens. These results demonstrate a mechanism of intermolecular help that may be responsible for the production of rheumatoid factor and possibly of other types of autoantibodies.
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
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E
Roosnek
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A
Lanzavecchia
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013744:Tetanus Toxin
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000939:Epitopes; D013744:Tetanus Toxin; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor