Systemic autoimmune disease arises from polyclonal B cell activation.
The number of B cells producing antibodies reactive with any of seven autoantigens or two conventional antigens was compared at the single-cell level to the total number of Ig-secreting B cells present in the spleens of NZB, MRL lpr/lpr, and BXSB autoimmune mice. The proportion of lymphocytes producing antibodies of each specificity, expressed as a percentage of the total B cell repertoire, was virtually identical among autoimmune and congenic nonautoimmune animals. Furthermore, B cells and serum antibodies reactive with conventional antigens increased commensurately with those reactive with autoantigens. These results indicate that systemic autoimmune diseases arise from polyclonal B cell activation.
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains
D001323:Autoantibodies; D004247:DNA