title: Role of B cells in presentation of autoantigens to CD4(+) T cells in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.
abstract: The antigen-presenting activity of B cells and expression of molecules involved in antigen presentation by B cells have been studied in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). The disease is characterized by enhanced expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80 in naive B cells (CD19(+)CD27(-) cells) both ex vivo and under the conditions of polyclonal cell activation in a culture. Under in vitro conditions, antigen-loaded B cells have been shown to be capable of inducing proliferation of autologous CD4(+) cells, in particular, proliferation of autospecific T cells in patients with AIT. Given that an intense infiltration of thyroid tissue by B cells is a typical sign of AIT, the antigen-presenting activity of B cells appears to contribute to this pathology.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm', Russia. ibis_07@mail.ru.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kuklina
authors.affiliation: Perm' State Medical University, Perm', Russia.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Smirnova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm', Russia.
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Nekrasova
authors.affiliation: Perm' State Medical University, Perm', Russia.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Balashova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens