Autoreactive B cells in the marginal zone that express dual receptors.
Allotype and isotype exclusion is a property of most lymphocytes. The reason for this property is not known but it guarantees a high concentration of a single receptor, and threshold numbers of receptors may be required for efficient positive and negative selection. Receptor editing compromises exclusion by sustaining recombination even after a functional receptor is formed. Consequently, B cells expressing multiple receptors arise. We have studied such B cells in which one of the two receptors is anti-self, and find that these partially autoreactive B cells accumulate in the marginal zone. The restriction of these cells in this location may help to prevent them from undergoing diversification and developing into fully autoreactive B cells.
Li
Yijin
Y
Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Li
Hui
H
Weigert
Martin
M
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D007519:Isoantigens; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D004247:DNA