Autoimmunity and B-cell malignancies
- PMID: 9020570
Autoimmunity and B-cell malignancies
Abstract
There is evidence indicating that autoreactive B cells constitute a substantial part of the B-cell repertoire. This autoreactive repertoire secrete the so called natural autoantibodies characterized by their broad reactivity mainly directed against very well conserved public epitopes. They fulfill the definition of an autoantibody since they are self-reactive, but they are not self-specific. As yet, NAA directed against determinants of polymorphism have not been reported. Their germinal origin is suggested by their early appearance during ontogeny, their expression of cross-reactive idiotopes and structural studies of their sequence. As for the physiological role of the repertoire, we can assume that it may play a major role as a first barrier of defense. It is presently unknown whether these polyreactive B cells could constitute a pre-immune template which through an antigen driven process may be involved in the production of immune high affinity antibodies. This autoreactive B cell repertoire frequently undergoes malignant transformation, although there is controversy concerning the reasons accounting for this. It has been postulated that the continuous challenge of this autoreactive repertoire by self-antigens could create propitious conditions for malignant transformation to occur. However, it can be alternatively postulated, that overexpression of certain genes reflect what happens during ontogeny, since V genes expression is a developmentally regulated phenomenon and not all V genes are expressed during fetal life. Some of the genes that are recurrently expressed by these malignancies are also over-expressed in fetal repertoires and even in the adult normal B cell repertoire. We do not know whether it is the challenge by self-antigens or whether alternatively this over-expression simply reflects what happens with the fetal repertoire which could have selective advantages for malignization.
Similar articles
-
Autoimmunity and B-cell malignancies.Hematol Cell Ther. 1998 Feb;40(1):1-9. Hematol Cell Ther. 1998. PMID: 9556183 Review.
-
Basic biology of autoimmune phenomena in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Semin Oncol. 1998 Feb;25(1):34-41. Semin Oncol. 1998. PMID: 9482525 Review.
-
[Apparently opposite postulates of Ehrlich (Horror autotoxicus) and Metchnikoff (physiological autoimmunization) are not irreconcilable].Bull Acad Natl Med. 1999;183(6):1153-63; discussion 1163-4. Bull Acad Natl Med. 1999. PMID: 10560169 French.
-
Evidence that the B lymphocyte proliferating in B-CLL and in other B-cell malignancies is frequently committed to production of natural autoantibodies.Nouv Rev Fr Hematol (1978). 1990;32(5):323-6. Nouv Rev Fr Hematol (1978). 1990. PMID: 2099404 Review.
-
The humoral immune response in autoimmunity.Dermatol Clin. 1993 Jul;11(3):379-89. Dermatol Clin. 1993. PMID: 8365026 Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Research Materials