[HTML][HTML] FcγRIIb differentially regulates pre-immune and germinal center B cell tolerance in mouse and human

M Espéli, R Bashford-Rogers, JM Sowerby… - Nature …, 2019 - nature.com
M Espéli, R Bashford-Rogers, JM Sowerby, N Alouche, L Wong, AE Denton, MA Linterman
Nature communications, 2019nature.com
Several tolerance checkpoints exist throughout B cell development to control autoreactive B
cells and prevent the generation of pathogenic autoantibodies. FcγRIIb 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 FcγRIIb enhances the deletion and anergy of autoreactive immature B cells,
but in contrast promotes autoreactive B cell expansion in the germinal center and serum …
Abstract
Several tolerance checkpoints exist throughout B cell development to control autoreactive B cells and prevent the generation of pathogenic autoantibodies. FcγRIIb 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 FcγRIIb 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 FcγRIIb 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.
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