title: Regulation of autoreactive B cell responses to endogenous TLR ligands.
abstract: Immune complexes containing DNA and RNA are responsible for disease manifestations found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). B cells contribute to SLE pathology through BCR recognition of endogenous DNA- and RNA- associated autoantigens and delivery of these self-constituents to endosomal TLR9 and TLR7, respectively. B cell activation by these pathways leads to production of class-switched DNA- and RNA-reactive autoantibodies, contributing to an inflammatory amplification loop characteristic of disease. Intriguingly, self-DNA and RNA are typically non-stimulatory for TLR9/7 due to the absence of stimulatory sequences or the presence of molecular modifications. Recent evidence from our laboratory and others suggests that B cell activation by BCR/TLR pathways is tightly regulated by surface-expressed receptors on B cells, and the outcome of activation depends on the balance of stimulatory and inhibitory signals. Either IFNalpha engagement of the type I IFN receptor or loss of IgG ligation of the inhibitory FcgammaRIIB receptor promotes B cell activation by weakly stimulatory DNA and RNA TLR ligands. In this context, autoreactive B cells can respond robustly to common autoantigens. These findings have important implications for the role of B cells in vivo in the pathology of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Avalos
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Busconi
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marshak-Rothstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7 / Q000276:immunology*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D051199:Toll-Like Receptor 7; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9