title: Silent antibodies.
abstract: Over the past years, progress has been made in understanding B cells and antibody recognition functions, particularly in the context of autoimmune diseases. In addition to the existence of "natural antibodies", recent studies suggest the existence of immunoglobulins with no apparent specificity that may acquire polyreactivity following a mild denaturation in inflammatory sites. They are called "silent antibodies". Together with related observations on B cell development, selection and signaling, the recent insights are providing clues into our understanding of autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Santé et de Recherche Médicale (INSERM U 430), Immunopathologie Humaine, 15 rue de l'Ecole de Mèdecine, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bouvet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zouali
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D017635:Clonal Anergy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins