Infections, B cell receptor activation and autoimmunity: different check-point impairments lead to autoimmunity, clonal B cell expansion and fibrosis in different immunological settings.
B cells as autoantibody producing cells are major players in several autoimmune chronic inflammatory diseases (ACIDs). In some particular settings (i.e. Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis), the activated B cells could undergo malignant clonal expansion. Chronic infections by lymphotropic viruses (hepatitis C virus, Epstein Barr Virus, Herpes 6 and 8 viruses) could amplify the activation process by inducing antiapoptotic signals that lead to a longer survival of B cell subsets. This might then lead, through multiple oncogenic events, to benign first and malignant thereafter clonal B cell expansion. Understanding how the B cell are activated, how the B cell receptor activation can be maintained under control, which check-points could be deregulated and lead to a persistent activation is of crucial importance in benign and malignant diseases. The evidence suggests that the B cells faulty check-points are different in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, in cryoglobulinemia, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis.
Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart-CIC Via Moscati 31, Rome, 00168 Italy. gf.ferraccioli@rm.unicatt.it
Gianfranco
G
Ferraccioli
Barbara
B
Tolusso
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell