Autoantibody regulation

Autoantibody regulation encompasses the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the immune system maintains tolerance to self-antigens and prevents inappropriate or pathogenic autoantibody production. Central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms, including elimination or anergy of autoreactive lymphocytes, receptor editing, and modulation by regulatory T and B cells, govern whether autoantibodies are present at physiologic versus pathogenic levels. Defects in these regulatory mechanisms contribute to autoimmune diseases, where high-affinity, somatically mutated autoantibodies mediate tissue damage or inflammation. Regulatory checkpoints involve cytokine signaling, B cell maturation, Fc receptor signaling, and antigen presentation, and their dysfunction may arise from genetic, epigenetic, or environmental factors. Therapies modulating autoantibody regulation (which typically target specific steps in the pathway, such as B cell depletion or cytokine blockade) are employed in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but "autoantibody regulation" itself is not a single molecular entity that can be directly targeted.

Other names

Autoantibody homeostasisautoantibody toleranceregulation of autoantibody productioncontrol of autoimmunity