IRAK-4- and MyD88-dependent pathways are essential for the removal of developing autoreactive B cells in humans

Immunity. 2008 Nov 14;29(5):746-57. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2008.09.015.

Abstract

Most autoreactive B cells are normally counterselected during early B cell development. To determine whether Toll-like receptors (TLRs) regulate the removal of autoreactive B lymphocytes, we tested the reactivity of recombinant antibodies from single B cells isolated from patients deficient for interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK-4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and UNC-93B. Indeed, all TLRs except TLR3 require IRAK-4 and MyD88 to signal, and UNC-93B-deficient cells are unresponsive to TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9. All patients suffered from defective central and peripheral B cell tolerance checkpoints, resulting in the accumulation of large numbers of autoreactive mature naive B cells in their blood. Hence, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 may prevent the recruitment of developing autoreactive B cells in healthy donors. Paradoxically, IRAK-4-, MyD88-, and UNC-93B-deficient patients did not display autoreactive antibodies in their serum or develop autoimmune diseases, suggesting that IRAK-4, MyD88, and UNC-93B pathway blockade may thwart autoimmunity in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / immunology
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / metabolism
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / metabolism
  • Autoimmunity*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / deficiency
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Male
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / deficiency
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Self Tolerance*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / immunology*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • UNC93B1 protein, human
  • IRAK4 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE13300