B-cell tolerance checkpoints in healthy humans and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Antibodies are protective effector molecules in the body's immune defense against pathogens. However, if directed against the body's own tissues or organs, antibodies can also play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Here, we discuss our data on how autoreactive antibodies are regulated in healthy humans and how a failure to establish self-tolerance during early B-cell development in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus may predispose to the development of this autoimmune disease.
Yurasov
Sergey
S
Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10021, USA.
Hammersen
Johanna
J
Tiller
Thomas
T
Tsuiji
Makoto
M
Wardemann
Hedda
H
D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*