Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3346281 | Current Opinion in Immunology | 2008 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
B cell tolerance to many self-proteins is actively maintained by either purging self-reactive B receptors through clonal deletion and receptor editing, or by functional silencing known as anergy. However, these processes are clearly incomplete as B cell driven autoimmune diseases still occur. The significance of B cells in two such diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, is highlighted by the ameliorative effects of B cell depletion. It remains to be determined, however, whether the key role of the B cell in autoimmune disease is autoantibody production or another antibody-independent function.
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Authors
Laura Mandik-Nayak, Natalie Ridge, Michele Fields, Audrey Y Park, Jan Erikson,