Autophagy is activated in systemic lupus erythematosus and required for plasmablast development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autophagy has emerged as a critical homeostatic mechanism in T lymphocytes, influencing proliferation and differentiation. Autophagy in B cells has been less studied, but genetic deficiency causes impairment of early and late developmental stages

Objectives

To explore the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of human and murine lupus, a disease in which B cells are critical effectors of pathology.

Methods

Autophagy was assessed using multiple techniques in NZB/W and control mice, and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to healthy controls. We evaluated the phenotype of the B cell compartment in Vav-Atg7(-/-) mice in vivo, and examined human and murine plasmablast formation following inhibition of autophagy.

Results

We found

SUBMITTER: Clarke AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4152192 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature