Autoantibody-producing B cell

"Autoantibody-producing B cell" refers to a B lymphocyte that has differentiated to secrete antibodies targeting the body's own tissues or antigens (autoantibodies), a hallmark of autoimmune disease pathogenesis. This functional state can occur in various stages of B cell differentiation, including short-lived plasmablasts and long-lived plasma cells. These cells play a pivotal role in the development and perpetuation of autoimmunity by breaking tolerance to self and facilitating chronic inflammation. Therapeutic strategies in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis often aim to selectively deplete or functionally inhibit these pathogenic B cells, but face challenges tied to their similarity to normal, protective antibody-producing cells and their sometimes limited surface marker expression when fully differentiated.

Other names

autoreactive B cellautoantigen-specific B cellpathogenic B cellplasma cell (when terminally differentiated and antibody-secreting)antibody-secreting cell (when transiently differentiated)

B cell depletion (targeting surface markers such as CD20); Inhibition of B cell survival factors (e.g., BAFF/BLyS inhibition); Blocking B cell maturation or differentiation pathways