The process of central tolerance eliminates self‐reactive B and T lymphocytes as they develop in the bone marrow and thymus. Although stringent, this process is not complete because some auto‐antigens that are not expressed during central tolerance are present in the periphery. Therefore, peripheral tolerance mechanisms are in place to silence any self‐reactive B and T cells that escape central tolerance. New bone marrow B cell emigrants, termed transitional B cells, undergo anergy and eventual apoptosis upon encounter with self‐antigen. Mature T cells may undergo anergy, apoptosis, or develop into regulatory T cells that suppress immune responses. In this study, we examine the role of transitional and mature B cells in T cell tolerance induction. More specifically, we use an in vivo model to provide evidence that transitional and mature follicular B cells are capable of inducing antigen‐specific T cell anergy. Further, we examine the capacity of three B cell subsets in converting naïve T cells to regulatory T cells in vitro. All together, these data implicate B cell subsets in peripheral T cell tolerance induction.
Erin Martin, The Role of B Cell Subsets in Peripheral Tolerance Induction
Summary:
Master's Thesis Seminar
Erin Martin
The Role of B Cell Subsets in Peripheral Tolerance Induction
Thursday December 16 @ 2:30PM in the Vollum Seminar Room M1441
