Natural autoantibodies to apoptotic cell membranes regulate fundamental innate immune functions and suppress inflammation.
The evolution of the immune system has provided a multilevel system that interconnects the innate and adaptive immune systems to serve at least three central purposes: the defense from microbial pathogens, the capacity for discrimination of self- from non-self necessary for the prevention of autoimmune disease, and essential effector roles in wound repair and tissue remodeling. In recent studies, we have elucidated an unsuspected role for a class of naturally occurring autoreactive antibodies from the most primitive tier of B lymphocytes, which regulates fundamental functions of the innate immune system. Our findings also throw light onto long unresolved mysteries regarding the origins of the earliest waves of B lymphocyte development.
Silverman
Gregg J
GJ
Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92024-0663, United States.
Grönwall
Caroline
C
Vas
Jaya
J
Chen
Yifang
Y
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies