B Cells and Autoantibody Production in Autoimmune Diseases (Medical Intelligence Unit)

This book is about the involvement of B cells in autoimmune diseases through both the production of autoantibodies and their participation in antigen presentation and immune regulation. Autoantibodies are used as biological markers of various autoimmune diseases in clinical practice. They are directly responsible for tissue lesions in some autoimmune states. They are used as probes for characterizing autoantigens involved in autoimmunity. B cells are central to antigen presentation and immune regulation in the physiological state. Their dysfunction may directly result in autoimmunity. In any case, the involvement of autoreactive B cells needs to be considered in relation to that of regulatory T cells and of regulatory networks that connect B cells, T cells and tissues expressing autoantigens.