Integrated single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics reveals strong germinal center-associated etiology of autoimmune risk loci.

ABSTRACT: The germinal center (GC) response is critical for both effective adaptive immunity and establishing peripheral tolerance by limiting autoreactive B cells. Dysfunction in these processes can lead to defective immune responses to infection or contribute to autoimmune disease. To understand the gene regulatory principles underlying the GC response, we generated a single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic atlas of the human tonsil, a widely studied and representative lymphoid tissue. We characterize diverse immune cell subsets and build a trajectory of dynamic gene expression and transcription factor activity during B cell activation, GC formation, and plasma cell differentiation. We subsequently leverage cell type–specific transcriptomic and epigenomic maps to interpret potential regulatory i

SUBMITTER: King HW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8859880 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature