Induction of autoreactive B cells allows priming of autoreactive T cells.

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.173.6.1433
• Publication Date: 2004-06-24T07:56:10Z
• Authors: R H Lin; M J Mamula; J A Hardin; C A Janeway
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; B-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Autoimmunity; Cytochrome c Group; Mice, Inbred Strains; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Antibody Formation; Immune Tolerance; Animals

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.