title: B-cell activation and development within chronically inflamed synovium in rheumatoid and reactive arthritis.
abstract: In autoimmune diseases, B cells often accumulate in the affected tissue. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis or reactive arthritis, germinal center-like structures may develop in the inflamed synovial tissue. B cells from these structures were isolated and their V-gene repertoire determined. The majority of synovial B cells are long-term memory cells and thus are part of the chronic inflammatory reaction. In the synovium a micro-environment is built up which allows the activation of naive and memory B cells and the diversification of their V-gene repertoire. The analysis of plasma cells suggests that these cells are long lived and hence accumulate in the synovial tissue under chronic activation.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Rheuma ForschungsZentrum, Berlin Monbijoustr. 2, Berlin, 10117, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berek
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology