title: Secondary receptor editing in the generation of autoimmunity.
abstract: Receptor editing is the process that replaces the heavy chain or light chain variable region genes in a B cell immunoglobulin receptor that is already productively rearranged. It is a major mechanism in the bone marrow for maintaining B cell tolerance to autoantigens. We propose that a pathological autoimmune process can use receptor editing to induce the de novo creation and activation of B cells with autoreactive receptors in the peripheral immune system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, United States. raemd@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell