Fc?RIIb differentially regulates pre-immune and germinal center B cell tolerance in mouse and human.

ABSTRACT: Several tolerance checkpoints exist throughout B cell development to control autoreactive B cells and prevent the generation of pathogenic autoantibodies. Fc?RIIb is an Fc receptor that inhibits B cell activation and, if defective, is associated with autoimmune disease, yet its impact on specific B cell tolerance checkpoints is unknown. Here we show that reduced expression of Fc?RIIb enhances the deletion and anergy of autoreactive immature B cells, but in contrast promotes autoreactive B cell expansion in the germinal center and serum autoantibody production, even in response to exogenous, non-self antigens. Our data thus show that Fc?RIIb has opposing effects on pre-immune and post-immune tolerance checkpoints, and suggest that B cell tolerance requires the control of bystander germinal center B cells with low or no affinity for the immunizing antigen.

SUBMITTER: Espeli M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6488660 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature