It is unclear why selective deficiency in secreted (s)IgM causes Ab-mediated autoimmunity. We demonstrate that sIgM is required for normal B cell development and selection. The CD5+ B cells that were previously shown to accumulate in body cavities of sIgM−/− mice are not B-1a cells, but CD19int, CD43−, short-lived, BCR signaling–unresponsive anergic B-2 cells. Body cavity B-1 cells were >10-fold reduced, including VH11+ and phosphotidylcholine-specific B-1a cells, whereas splenic B-1 cells were unaffected and marginal zone B cells increased. Follicular B cells had higher turnover rates, survived poorly after adoptive transfer, and were unresponsiveness to BCR stimulation in vitro. sIgM bound to B cell precursors and provided a positive signal to overcome a block at the pro/pre–B stage and during IgVH repertoire selection. Polyclonal IgM rescued B cell development and returned autoantibody levels to near normal. Thus, natural IgM deficiency causes primary autoimmune disease by altering B cell development, selection, and central tolerance induction.
CITATION STYLE
Nguyen, T. T. T., Elsner, R. A., & Baumgarth, N. (2015). Natural IgM Prevents Autoimmunity by Enforcing B Cell Central Tolerance Induction. The Journal of Immunology, 194(4), 1489–1502. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1401880
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