Induction of self-tolerance in mature peripheral B lymphocytes |
| |
Authors: | C C Goodnow J Crosbie H Jorgensen R A Brink A Basten |
| |
Affiliation: | Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. |
| |
Abstract: | In transgenic mice, mature peripheral B lymphocytes in lymphoid follicles, like immature B cells, are rendered tolerant by encounter with self-antigen, provided receptor occupancy by self-antigen exceeds a critical threshold. The tolerant state of the B cell is closely correlated with down-regulation of membrane IgM but not IgD antigen-receptors. Identical changes in antigen-receptor expression occur in a subset of follicular B cells in nontransgenic mice, suggesting that clonally silenced self-reactive cells are common in the peripheral B-cell repertoire. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|