Positive selection of natural autoreactive B cells.
Lymphocyte development is critically influenced by self-antigens. T cells are subject to both positive and negative selection, depending on their degree of self-reactivity. Although B cells are subject to negative selection, it has been difficult to test whether self-antigen plays any positive role in B cell development. A murine model system of naturally generated autoreactive B cells with a germ line gene-encoded specificity for the Thy-1 (CD90) glycoprotein was developed, in which the presence of self-antigen promotes B cell accumulation and serum autoantibody secretion. Thus, B cells can be subject to positive selection, generated, and maintained on the basis of their autoreactivity.
Hayakawa
K
K
Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. K_Hayakawa@fccc.edu
Asano
M
M
Shinton
S A
SA
Gui
M
M
Allman
D
D
Stewart
C L
CL
Silver
J
J
Hardy
R R
RR
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006825:Hybridomas; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens