title: B cells flying solo.
abstract: Systemic autoimmunity such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with the loss of B-cell tolerance, B-cell dysregulation and autoantibody production. While some autoantibodies may contribute to the pathology seen with SLE, numerous studies have shown that dysregulation of T-cell function is another critical aspect driving disease. The positive results obtained in clinical trials using T-cell- or B-cell-specific treatments have suggested that cooperation between T and B cells probably underlies disease progression in many patients. A similar cooperative mechanism seemed to explain SLE developing in mice overexpressing the B-cell-activating factor from the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF). However, surprisingly, T-cell-deficient BAFF transgenic (Tg) mice develop SLE similar to T-cell-sufficient BAFF Tg mice, and the disease was linked to innate activation of B cells and production of proinflammatory autoantibody isotypes. In conclusion, dysregulated innate activation of B cells alone can drive disease independently of T cells, and as such this aspect represents a new pathogenic mechanism in autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: The Autoimmunity Research Unit, The Garvan Institute of Medical research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groom
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017637:Clonal Deletion / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D017634:Self Tolerance / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor