Dual-reactive B cells are autoreactive and highly enriched in the plasmablast and memory B cell subsets of autoimmune mice

J Exp Med. 2012 Sep 24;209(10):1797-812. doi: 10.1084/jem.20120332. Epub 2012 Aug 27.

Abstract

Rare dual-reactive B cells expressing two types of Ig light or heavy chains have been shown to participate in immune responses and differentiate into IgG(+) cells in healthy mice. These cells are generated more often in autoreactive mice, leading us to hypothesize they might be relevant in autoimmunity. Using mice bearing Igk allotypic markers and a wild-type Ig repertoire, we demonstrate that the generation of dual-κ B cells increases with age and disease progression in autoimmune-prone MRL and MRL/lpr mice. These dual-reactive cells express markers of activation and are more frequently autoreactive than single-reactive B cells. Moreover, dual-κ B cells represent up to half of plasmablasts and memory B cells in autoimmune mice, whereas they remain infrequent in healthy mice. Differentiation of dual-κ B cells into plasmablasts is driven by MRL genes, whereas the maintenance of IgG(+) cells is partly dependent on Fas inactivation. Furthermore, dual-κ B cells that differentiate into plasmablasts retain the capacity to secrete autoantibodies. Overall, our study indicates that dual-reactive B cells significantly contribute to the plasmablast and memory B cell populations of autoimmune-prone mice suggesting a role in autoimmunity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / metabolism
  • Autoimmune Diseases / genetics
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmunity*
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated / genetics
  • Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated / immunology
  • Female
  • Hybridomas / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Kinetics
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Plasma Cells / immunology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / immunology
  • fas Receptor / immunology
  • fas Receptor / metabolism

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • IgK
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • fas Receptor