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

T Tiller, J Kofer, C Kreschel, CE Busse… - Journal of Experimental …, 2010 - rupress.org
T Tiller, J Kofer, C Kreschel, CE Busse, S Riebel, S Wickert, F Oden, MMM Mertes, M Ehlers
Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2010rupress.org
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 …
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.
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