Autoreactive thymic B cells are efficient antigen-presenting cells of cognate self-antigens for T cell negative selection
Abstract
In the thymus, developing T cells undergo negative selection to remove T-cell specificities that react to self-antigens. This process generates a T-cell repertoire that is tolerant to one's own tissues. It depends on antigen-presenting cells to present self-antigens to developing T cells. This paper characterizes the development and antigen-presenting function of a poorly understood population of B cells within the thymus. These cells develop intrathymically, are phenotypically distinct from all other B-cell lineages, and have properties that make them extremely efficient at presenting self-antigens to developing T cells. In particular, they accomplish this by binding to self-antigens with their specific B-cell receptors.
- Publication:
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- October 2013
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2013PNAS..11017011P