Self-reactive B cells in nonautoimmune and autoimmune mice

Dual Role of Fas/FasL-Mediated Signal in Peripheral Immune Tolerance

Fas-mediated apoptosis contributes to physiological and pathological cellular processes, such as differentiation and survival. In particular, the roles of Fas in immune cells are complex and critical for the maintenance of immune tolerance. The precise pathways and unique functions associated with Fas/FasL-mediated signaling in the immune system are known. The dual character of Fas/FasL-mediated immune regulation that induces beneficial or harmful effects is associated with the onset or development of immune disorders. Studies on mutations in genes encoding Fas and FasL gene of humans and mice contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the opposing functions of Fas/FasL-mediated signaling, bilateral effects of Fas/FasL on in immune cells, and complex pathogenesis of autoimmunity mediated by Fas/FasL.

Lupus nephritis: an overview of recent findings

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since it is the major predictor of poor prognosis. In susceptible individuals suffering of SLE, in situ formation and deposit of immune complexes (ICs) from apoptotic bodies occur in the kidneys as a result of an amplified epitope immunological response. IC glomerular deposits generate release of proinflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules causing inflammation. This leads to monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells chemotaxis. Subsequent release of proteases generates endothelial injury and mesangial proliferation. Presence of ICs promotes adaptive immune response and causes dendritic cells to release type I interferon. This induces maturation and activation of infiltrating T cells, and amplification of Th2, Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes. Each of them, amplify B cells and activates macrophages to release more proinflammatory molecules, generating effector cells that cannot be modulated promoting kidney epithelial proliferation and fibrosis. Herein immunopathological findings of LN are reviewed.

Regulation of the B cell receptor repertoire and self-reactivity by BAFF

The TNF-family cytokine BAFF (BLyS) promotes B lymphocyte survival and is overexpressed in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's Syndrome. BAFF can rescue anergic autoreactive B cells from death, but only when competition from nonautoreactive B cells is lacking. Yet, high BAFF levels promote autoantibody formation in individuals possessing diverse B cells. To better understand how excess BAFF promotes autoimmunity in a polyclonal immune system, Ig L chain usage was analyzed in 3H9 site-directed IgH chain transgenic mice, whose B cells recognize DNA and chromatin when they express certain endogenous L chains. BAFF levels were manipulated in 3H9 mice by introducing transgenes expressing either BAFF or its natural inhibitor ΔBAFF. B cells in BAFF/3H9 mice were elevated in number, used a broad L chain repertoire, including L chains generating high-affinity autoreactivity, and produced abundant autoantibodies. Comparison of spleen and lymph node B cells suggested that highly autoreactive B cells were expanded. By contrast, ΔBAFF/3H9 mice had reduced B cell numbers with a repertoire similar to that of 3H9 mice, but lacking usage of a subset of Vκ genes. The results show that limiting BAFF signaling only slightly selects against higher affinity autoreactive B cells, whereas its overexpression leads to broad tolerance escape and positive selection of autoreactive cells. The results have positive implications for the clinical use of BAFF-depleting therapy.

The role of rearrangement at the second Ig heavy chain locus in maintaining B cell tolerance to DNA

In recently generated B6.56R anti-DNA autoantibody-transgenic mice, it was noted that a substantial fraction of the B cells that had avoided DNA reactivity had done so through the rearrangement and usage of the endogenous, nontargeted H chain (HC) allele. This suggested that rearrangement at the second HC locus might be an important mechanism through which self-reactive B cells might successfully revise their initial Ag specificity. To test the importance of this mechanism in B cell tolerance, we generated B6.56R/56R mice that possessed the 56R anti-DNA H chain transgene inserted into both HC loci. These transgenic homozygotes developed higher titers of anti-DNA Abs, with an expanded population of B220(low)MHC class II(low) B cells, enriched for CD21(low)CD23(low) preplasmablasts. The analysis of hybridomas from these mice revealed that the only avenue by which these B cells could avoid DNA reactivity was through the use of the editor L chains, V(k)20 or V(k)21. Hence, in addition to LC editing, rearrangement and usage of the second HC locus/allele constitutes an important safety valve for B cells the primary BCR of which confers DNA reactivity. In contrast to these tolerance mechanisms, editing the first rearranged HC locus (through HC replacement) and somatic mutations appear to be less frequently used to edit/revise self-reactive B cells.

T cells and B cells in lupus nephritis

T and B lymphocytes play diverse roles at multiple stages in the development and progression of lupus nephritis. Disruption of T- and B-cell regulatory functions by environmental and genetic influences permits pathogenic effectors to emerge in disease. New insights into the biology of these multifunctional cells offer novel targets for intervention in lupus nephritis and systemic autoimmunity.

Quantitatively Reduced Participation of Anti-Nuclear Antigen B Cells That Down-Regulate B Cell Receptor during Primary Development in the Germinal Center/Memory B Cell Response to Foreign Antigen

The peripheral B cell compartment contains high levels of "polyreactivity" including autospecificities. We have described a pathway that certain autoreactive B cells may take in gaining stable access to the foreign Ag-responsive peripheral compartment. This pathway was revealed in mice expressing a targeted Ig H chain transgene encoding BCRs with "multireactivity" for the hapten arsonate and DNA-based autoantigens. B cells expressing such BCRs develop to mature follicular phenotype and locale, and are not short-lived. These B cells express very low levels of BCR, indicating that they are not "ignorant" of self Ag, but do not display features of anergy in in vitro assays. Nonetheless, a variety of states of lymphocyte anergy has been described, and some may only be manifested in vivo. As such, we analyzed the ability of these B cells to participate in a T cell-dependent immune response to arsonate in vivo. These B cells mount an early primary response similar to control B cells, including homing to follicles, migration to the T-B interface, and induction of costimulatory molecules, proliferation, differentiation to AFCs, class switching, and entry into GCs and somatic hypermutation. Nonetheless, these B cells display reduced participation in the latter stages of the GC response and in the anamnestic AFC response. In total, these data suggest that while the autoreactivity of this type of B cell does not result in anergy, the ability of such B cells to participate in a cross-reactive immune response to foreign Ag is compromised.

Toll-like receptor engagement stimulates anti-snRNP autoreactive B cells for activation

Autoreactive B cells are the source of pathogenic autoantibodies (autoAb) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Previous studies have demonstrated that anti-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNP) B cells from normal background mice tolerize T cells in the periphery and do not secrete autoAb. In this study, we examined whether these anti-snRNP B cells can be activated for autoAb production by the engagement of Toll-like receptors (TLR). Anti-snRNP B cells proliferated vigorously and secreted abundant anti-snRNP autoAb upon exposure to CpG or polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid [poly (I:C)] in vitro. In addition, the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 were up-regulated. While both anti-snRNP B cells and wild-type B cells produced similar levels of IL-6 and IL-10, anti-snRNP B cells secreted predominately IFN-gamma in response to CpG or poly (I:C) stimulation. Furthermore, we showed that in vivo engagement of TLR stimulated immature anti-snRNP B cells to further differentiate and produce autoAb and form germinal centers. The activated anti-snRNP B cells became expanded and migrated into the T-B cell interface. Moreover, TLR engagement directly or indirectly activated autoreactive B cells via a CD4 T cell-independent manner. These results provide in vitro and in vivo evidence that BCR/TLR co-engagement promotes the activation of anti-snRNP B cells for autoAb production.

Death receptor signaling and autoimmunity

In recent years, it has become clear that self-nonself discrimination by the immune system is driven not so much by the specificities of the antigen receptors themselves, but by ligand-receptor systems that sense the presence of foreign pathogens (toll-like receptors) and those that regulate the balance between cellular proliferation and programmed cell death (tumor necrosis factor [TNF] family ligands and receptors). Interestingly, these two receptor families share a number of common signaling pathways, mediated by the cytoplasmic proteins containing death domains and TRAF domains, which trigger the complementary processes of programmed cell death and inflammation. Both humans and mice with genetic defects in the TNF-receptor family member Fas accumulate abnormal lymphocytes and develop systemic autoimmunity. These findings highlighted the importance of this TNF-receptor family member in the homeostasis of the immune system. In particular, the Fas receptor has been shown to be important in immunoreceptor-mediated apoptosis of activated T and B lymphocytes. Six members of the TNF-receptor superfamily share a common signaling domain with Fas, termed the death domain, that directly links these receptors to the apoptotic machinery of the cell, and, collectively, these receptors have been designated as "death receptors."We are currently investigating a number of important unresolved issues in this field, including: (1). how susceptibility to apoptosis through death receptors is regulated, (2). how Fas and related death receptors function in the maintenance of self-tolerance and homeostasis in the major cell types of the immune system, and (3). recently described nonapoptotic lymphocyte activation signals that use components of death receptor signaling.

Progressive Surface B Cell Antigen Receptor Down-Regulation Accompanies Efficient Development of Antinuclear Antigen B Cells to Mature, Follicular Phenotype

Previous studies have suggested that B cell Ag receptor (BCR) down-regulation by potentially pathological autoreactive B cells is associated with pathways leading to developmental arrest and receptor editing, or anergy. In this study we compare the primary development of B cells in two strains of mice expressing transgenic BCRs that differ by a single amino acid substitution that substantially increases reactivity for nuclear autoantigens such as DNA. Surprisingly, we find that both BCRs promote efficient development to mature follicular phenotype, but the strongly autoreactive BCR fails to promote marginal zone B cell development. The follicular B cells expressing the strongly autoreactive BCR do not appear to be anergic, as they robustly respond to polyclonal stimuli in vitro, are not short-lived, and can participate in germinal center reactions. Strikingly however, substantial and progressive down-modulation of surface IgM and IgD takes place throughout their primary development in the BM and periphery. We propose that BCR-autoantigen interactions regulate this pathway, resulting in reduced cellular avidity for autoantigens. This process of "learned ignorance" could allow autoreactive B cells access to the foreign Ag-driven memory B cell response, during which their self-reactivity would be attenuated by somatic hypermutation and selection in the germinal center.

Transgenic models of tolerance and autoimmunity: with special reference to systemic lupus erythematosus

Transgenic and knockout mouse carrying rearranged antigen-receptor genes have been invaluable for the elucidation of basic mechanisms in autoimmunity and have contributed new models of human autoimmune diseases. Several examples of transgenic models expressing rearranged immunoglobulin genes have been described. These models have provided a window into the events involved in this process, allowing the development and fate of self-reactive lymphocytes to be followed in vivo. In the B cell lineage, as in T cells, self-reactive cells have been found to undergo several distinct fates in vivo: they can be physically eliminated, functionally inactivated, or they can persist unchanged or become activated. Nevertheless the precise understanding of the molecular events leading to lymphocyte deletion, anergy or activation remains a challenge.

Autoimmunity as a special case of immunity: removing threats from within

The function of the adaptive immune response against exogenous (non-self) agents is to help the innate arm of the immune system (represented by phagocytic cells) to fight and eliminate these agents. We suggest that the body also protects itself against potentially harmful self components using mechanisms similar to those used for fighting and eliminating non-self agents, and that the protective immune activity against self-components competes with the activity of self-destructive compounds. Tolerance to self is thus not a lack of response to self, but the ability to tolerate an active defense response to self without developing an autoimmune disease.

Evolution of catalytic antibody repertoire in autoimmune mice

We have attempted to efficiently obtain catalytic antibodies (catAbs) with amidase/esterase activity in the expanded sequence space of the antibody repertoire. In doing so, we used an autoimmune mouse strain, MRL/lpr, that is known to produce enhanced levels of autoantibodies. We applied different types of haptens, such as, and, that are supposed to mimic the transition state of the substrate in the ester/amide hydrolysis. Among them, hapten (2) could not be used, as it was readily broken down after synthesis. Upon immunization with hapten (1), catAbs preferentially evolved in MRL/lpr mice, but this did not happen upon immunization with haptens (3) and (4). Independently, immunization to MRL/lpr mice with successfully elicited the catAbs with the ability to activate vitamin B(6) prodrugs. The common observation seen in these two cases is that most of the catAbs derived from MRL/lpr mice by hapten (1) and half of them by hapten (5) had a Lys at H95, which is at the junctional N region between the V(H) and J(H) gene segments. Despite the conservation of Lys (H95), analyses of the N-region and utilization of the D gene segment in the heavy chain gene showed that these catAbs were from several independent clones of the same family. Studies of site-directed mutagenesis suggest that, in the catAbs elicited from hapten (1), a Lys (H95) and a His (L91) are involved in the catalytic function. Both residues are known to interact with the phosphonate moiety of hapten (1). Such studies also suggest that, in the catAbs elicited from hapten (5), a Lys (H95) and a His (H35) are involved in the catalytic function. These basic amino acids seem to be important for binding to the phosphonate hapten, as they were not changed even after extensive evolution following multiple mutations. By contrast, in normal BALB/c mice, immunization of hapten (1) resulted in eliciting catAbs in lower yield and the majority were the non-catAbs, whose sequences were quite different from those of the catAbs from MRL/lpr mice. They were clonally related to one another and most of them originated from a single clone. The positions of the interacting key residues in the CDRs that interact with the phosphorus moiety strongly differ between our catAbs and other reported catAbs with esterase/amidase activity, which were elicited by the phosphonate/phosphonamidate haptens from normal mice. Further comparison of antibodies elicited by the phosphorus haptens, such as DNA, RNA, phosphocholine, and phosphotyrosine, indicated that none of them had sequence similarity in the basic amino acids and their positions in the CDRs, except for one example, which is anti-DNA antibody elicited from C3H-lpr mice. Analysis based on the classification of canonical structures of the antibodies again suggested that our catAbs derived from MRL/lpr mice belong to an unusual class that is not listed in the literature. Taken together, the above evidence suggests that the unique catalytic subsets that existed in the initial repertoire in the MRL/lpr mice could effectively be captured by the phosphonate haptens through the interaction with the Lys at H95. In the BALB/c mice, however, another noncatalytic subset with an ability to bind only to a moiety other than the phosphonate moiety alternatively evolved, because of the lowest abundance or elimination of the catalytic subsets.

Antigen-specific responses in autoimmunity and tolerance

Autoantibodies to the hormone insulin arise spontaneously in the insulin autoimmune syndrome and in the prodrome of type I diabetes. Further, administration of insulin to individuals without autoimmune disease routinely results in antibodies that bind autologous hormone. These observations suggest that physiological levels of hormones, such as insulin, are below critical thresholds for signaling tolerance induction, a state termed clonal ignorance. In contrast, studies from our laboratory on the genetic origins and structure of V genes used by insulin antibodies suggest that the anti-insulin repertoire is tightly regulated. We have shown that B cells in mice harboring an insulin antibody transgene are functionally silenced. These findings verify that tolerance is active for small molecules, even when they are present at low concentrations. Despite active tolerance, insulin antibodies are sustained in the repertoire of normal animals by several mechanisms, including activation by TI antigen signals, unique display of conformational epitopes, and the recruitment of B cells previously selected by responses to other antigens. This essay reviews our current understanding of escape pathways for anti-insulin B cells.

Molecular evolution of catalytic antibodies in autoimmune mice

Catalytic Abs (catAbs) preferentially evolved in autoimmune MRL/MPJ-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice upon immunization with the phosphonate transition-state analogue (TSA), but this did not happen in normal BALB/c mice. The majority of the catAbs from MRL/lpr mice were from several independent clones of the same family. Most of them had a lysine at position 95 in the heavy chain (H95), which is at the junctional region. This residue, which interacts with the phosphonate moiety of the TSA and presumably is involved in the catalytic activity, was not changed even after expansive evolution following multiple mutations. By contrast, the majority that arose from BALB/c mice were the non-catAbs, which were quite different in the sequence from the catAbs from MRL/lpr mice, but they were clonally related to one another, so most of them were originated from a single clone. In the MRL/lpr mice, the catalytic subsets that existed in the initial repertoire were effectively captured by the phosphonyl oxygens in the TSA by interacting with the lysine at H95. In the BALB/c mice, however, another noncatalytic subset with only the binding capability directed to a moiety other than the phosphonate moiety was alternatively evolved, because of the lowest abundance or elimination of the catalytic subsets.

Cognate T cell help is sufficient to trigger anti-nuclear autoantibodies in naive mice

The mechanisms involved in the initiation of anti-nuclear autoantibodies are unknown. In this study, we show that one factor allowing anti-nuclear autoantibodies to develop is the incomplete nature of immune tolerance to many of these proteins. Immune responses in mice toward the ubiquitous nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B are much weaker than responses to the xenoantigen, human La (hLa; 74% identical). However, in transgenic (Tg) mice expressing hLa, the Ab response to this neo-autoantigen was reduced to a level resembling the weak autoimmune response to mouse LA: Partial tolerance to endogenous La autoantigen was restricted to the T compartment because transfer of CD4(+) T cells specific for one or more hLa determinants into mice bearing the hLa transgene was sufficient to elicit production of anti-hLa autoantibodies. Notably, only hLa- specific T cells from non-Tg mice, and not T cells from hLa Tg mice, induced autoantibody production in hLa Tg mice. These findings confirm partial Th tolerance to endogenous La and indicate the existence in normal animals of autoreactive B cells continuously presenting La nuclear AG: Therefore, the B cell compartment is constitutively set to respond to particular nuclear autoantigens, implicating limiting Th responses as a critical checkpoint in the development of anti-nuclear autoantibodies in normal individuals.

A method to detect particle-specific antibodies against Ku and the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit in autoimmune sera

Sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, scleroderma, and mixed connective tissue disease are frequently characterized by the presence of high levels of autoantibodies directed against linked sets of nuclear proteins. One of these autoantigen systems is made up of Ku and the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), proteins that are essential for double-strand DNA break repair and for the related process of V(D)J recombination. Ku and DNA-PKcs bind avidly to DNA ends in vivo and in vitro and form an active protein kinase complex. One hypothesis is that this assembled nucleoprotein particle, rather than its component proteins, is a primary trigger for the autoimmune response and thus a major target for the resulting autoantibodies. To screen for particle-specific antibodies, we developed an assay in which the fully native nucleoprotein particle is reconstituted in vitro and is tethered to the surface of an ELISA plate via a streptavidin-biotin linkage. These particles are recognized efficiently by monoclonal antibodies and by autoantibodies present in patient sera. The assay may detect a broader spectrum of epitopes than a conventional ELISA in which Ku and DNA-PKcs are adsorbed directly to a plastic surface. The method will be advantageous for high-throughput screening for antibodies and other ligands that bind the assembled DNA-dependent protein kinase complex.

Anergy and not clonal ignorance determines the fate of B cells that recognize a physiological autoantigen

Autoantibodies to insulin arise spontaneously in the insulin autoimmune syndrome and in type I diabetes. In addition, administration of insulin to individuals without autoimmune disease routinely results in Abs that bind autologous hormone. These observations and findings in transgenic models of tolerance led to an inference that physiological levels of hormones and growth factors, such as insulin, are not sufficient to induce tolerance in B cells, a state termed clonal ignorance. In contrast, we have discovered that virtually all conventional B cells expressing a low affinity anti-insulin transgene interact with endogenous insulin and are effectively silenced for Ig production and for T cell-dependent immune responses. A fraction of transgenic B cells escapes silencing and functions autonomously to produce insulin Abs that may lower fasting blood sugars similar to an insulin autoimmune syndrome. These B cells have characteristics of a B1-like subset and are depleted by hypotonic peritoneal lysis. These findings question the concept of clonal ignorance and show that physiological concentrations of Ag may effectively silence conventional B cells even when the affinity for autoantigen is low. Self-reactivity may arise in the repertoire because of compartmental differences that govern the fate of B cells and not as a result of true clonal ignorance.

The role of Fas and related death receptors in autoimmune and other disease states

The Fas receptor, also known as APO-1 or CD95, has emerged as a key initiator of apoptotic programmed cell death in a variety of cell types. CD4(+) T cells are unique in their ability to commit "suicide" by stimulating their own Fas receptors with secreted or membrane-bound Fas ligand. This takes place in the setting of repeated stimulation with T-cell antigens and is thought to be a mechanism for controlling the expansion of T cells during viral infections and autoimmune disease states. T cells can also trigger apoptosis in B cells, macrophages, and other cell types through Fas ligand. These interactions negatively regulate the immune system but can also contribute to immunopathology, as occurs in Fas-mediated damage of target tissues in hepatitis and other organ-specific autoimmune diseases. The dual role of Fas in the immune response complicates the understanding of its role in disease states and may limit its potential as a therapeutic target. Despite the many roles of Fas in immunoregulation, findings in experimental mouse strains and human patients with genetic deficiencies in the Fas pathway have shown that the main result of disrupting this pathway in vivo is systemic autoimmunity and a predisposition toward lymphoid malignancies. The role of Fas in various cell types and the lessons we have learned from Fas-deficient patients with the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome will be discussed.