The presence of autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) suggests a breach of tolerance. Recently, the IgM-IgD+ naïve B cell population has been shown to be enriched for self-reactive cells that are anergic in healthy subjects. Therefore, to determine whether there is altered selection of self-reactive cells in SLE, this population was examined using multiparameter flow cytometry. SLE patients had increased proportions of IgM-IgD+ cells in mature and transitional B cell compartments that were activated as compared to controls. Comparison of mature and transitional IgM-IgD+ B cell proportions suggested altered selection between the transitional to mature stages in SLE. There was no correlation between altered B cell function or genetic polymorphisms in B cell signalling molecules and the expansion or activation of IgM-IgD+ cells. Thus, selection of self-reactive B cells appears to be abnormal in SLE, but this does not appear to result from altered responses to Ig crosslinking.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/24256 |
| Date | 06 April 2010 |
| Creators | Kim, Julie Jisun |
| Contributors | Wither, Joan |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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