title: B cells expressing the transcription factor T-bet drive lupus-like autoimmunity.
abstract: B cells contribute to multiple aspects of autoimmune disorders and may play a role in triggering disease. Thus, targeting B cells may be a promising strategy for treating autoimmune disorders. Better understanding of the B cell subsets that are responsible for the development of autoimmunity will be critical for developing efficient therapies. Here we have reported that B cells expressing the transcription factor T-bet promote the rapid appearance of autoantibodies and germinal centers in spontaneous murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Conditional deletion of T-bet from B cells impaired the formation of germinal centers and mitigated the development of kidney damage and rapid mortality in SLE mice. B cell-specific deletion of T-bet was also associated with lower activation of both B cells and T cells. Taken together, our results suggest that targeting T-bet-expressing B cells may be a potential target for therapy for autoimmune diseases.
authors.forename: Kira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rubtsova
authors.forename: Anatoly V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rubtsov
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thurman
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mennona
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kappler
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marrack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor