title: Peripheral and synovial mechanisms of humoral autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: One of the hallmarks of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the development of humoral autoimmunity resulting in circulating autoantibodies. The clinical efficacy of B cell-depleting biologic treatments highlighted a key role for autoreactive B cell activation in the pathogenesis of RA. In this review, we discuss the key mechanisms leading to breach of B cell self-tolerance in the peripheral compartment. We also highlight the contribution of synovial ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS) in the development of functional niches of autoreactive B cells promoting humoral autoimmunity in the inflamed RA joints over and above secondary lymphoid organs (SLO).
authors.affiliation: Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corsiero
authors.affiliation: Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitzalis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK. Electronic address: m.bombardieri@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bombardieri
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies