Induction of autoreactive B cells allows priming of autoreactive T cells

• Published in: The Journal of experimental medicine Vol. 173; no. 6; pp. 1433 - 1439
• Main Authors: RONG-HWA LIN, MAMULA, M. J, HARDIN, J. A, JANEWAY, C. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Rockefeller University Press 01.06.1991; The Rockefeller University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Antibody Formation; Antigen-Presenting Cells - immunology; Autoimmunity - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cytochrome c Group - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II - immunology; Immune Tolerance; Immunobiology; Immunological tolerance; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Autoimmunity; Antigen presentation; Immunization; Rodentia; Activation; B-Lymphocyte; Xenogeneic system; Antigen; Cytochrome c; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Autoantigen; Mouse; Immune tolerance; T-Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0022-1007; 1540-9538
• DOI: 10.1084/jem.173.6.1433

A novel mechanism for breaking T cell self tolerance is described. B cells induced to make autoantibody by immunization of mice with the non-self protein human cytochrome c can present the self protein mouse cytochrome c to autoreactive T cells in immunogenic form. This mechanism of breaking T cell self tolerance could account for the role of foreign antigens in breaking not only B cell but also T cell self tolerance, leading to sustained autoantibody production in the absence of the foreign antigen.