title: The epigenetic landscape of B lymphocyte tolerance to self.
abstract: Despite frequent exposures to a variety of potential triggers, including antigens produced by pathogens or commensal microbiota, B-lymphocytes are able to mount highly protective responses to a variety of threats, while remaining tolerant to self-components. A number of cytokines, signaling pathways and transcription factors have been characterized to elucidate the mechanisms underlying B cell tolerance to self. It is, however, unclear how the signals received by B-lymphocytes are converted into complex and sustained patterns of gene expression that can allow production of protective antibodies and maintain immune tolerance to self-components. Mounting evidence now suggests an important role for epigenetic mechanisms in modulating and transmitting signals for B lymphocyte tolerization to self-antigens. It is likely that a better insight into epigenetic regulation of B cell tolerance will lead to development of gene-specific therapeutic approaches that optimize host defense mechanisms to exogenous threats, while preventing development and/or progression of autoimmune inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR-S 606, F-75475 Paris, France. moncef.zouali@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zouali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000276:immunology; D017634:Self Tolerance; D060152:V(D)J Recombination
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D007136:Immunoglobulins