Development of self-reactive germinal center B cells and plasma cells in autoimmune Fc gammaRIIB-deficient mice

J Exp Med. 2010 Nov 22;207(12):2767-78. doi: 10.1084/jem.20100171. Epub 2010 Nov 15.

Abstract

Abnormalities in expression levels of the IgG inhibitory Fc gamma receptor IIB (FcγRIIB) are associated with the development of immunoglobulin (Ig) G serum autoantibodies and systemic autoimmunity in mice and humans. We used Ig gene cloning from single isolated B cells to examine the checkpoints that regulate development of autoreactive germinal center (GC) B cells and plasma cells in FcγRIIB-deficient mice. We found that loss of FcγRIIB was associated with an increase in poly- and autoreactive IgG(+) GC B cells, including hallmark anti-nuclear antibody-expressing cells that possess characteristic Ig gene features and cells producing kidney-reactive autoantibodies. In the absence of FcγRIIB, autoreactive B cells actively participated in GC reactions and somatic mutations contributed to the generation of highly autoreactive IgG antibodies. In contrast, the frequency of autoreactive IgG(+) B cells was much lower in spleen and bone marrow plasma cells, suggesting the existence of an FcγRIIB-independent checkpoint for autoreactivity between the GC and the plasma cell compartment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / analysis
  • Autoantibodies / biosynthesis*
  • B-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Complementarity Determining Regions
  • Germinal Center / immunology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / chemistry
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nucleosomes / immunology
  • Plasma Cells / physiology*
  • Receptors, IgG / deficiency
  • Receptors, IgG / physiology*
  • Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • Complementarity Determining Regions
  • Fc gamma receptor IIB
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Nucleosomes
  • Receptors, IgG