Altered function and differentiation of age-associated B cells contribute to the female bias in lupus mice.

ABSTRACT: Differences in immune responses to viruses and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can show sexual dimorphism. Age-associated B cells (ABC) are a population of CD11c⁺T-bet⁺ B cells critical for antiviral responses and autoimmune disorders. Absence of DEF6 and SWAP-70, two homologous guanine exchange factors, in double-knock-out (DKO) mice leads to a lupus-like syndrome in females marked by accumulation of ABCs. Here we demonstrate that DKO ABCs show sex-specific differences in cell number, upregulation of an ISG signature, and further differentiation. DKO ABCs undergo oligoclonal expansion and differentiate into both CD11c⁺ and CD11c^- effector B cell populations with pathogenic and pro-inflammatory function as demonstra

SUBMITTER: Ricker E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8355159 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature