Positive and negative selection shape the human naïve B cell repertoire

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Abstract

While negative selection of developing B cells in the periphery is well described, yet poorly understood, evidence of naïve B cell positive selection remains elusive. Using two humanized mouse models, we demonstrate that there is strong skewing of expressed immunoglobulin repertoire upon transit into the peripheral naïve B cell pool. This positive selection of expanded naïve B cells in humanized mice resembled that in healthy donors and was independent of autologous thymic tissue. In contrast, negative selection of autoreactive B cells required thymic-derived regulatory T cells (Tregs) and MHC class II-restricted self-antigen presentation by B cells. Indeed, both defective MHC class II expression on their B cells in rare bare lymphocyte syndrome patients or prevention of self-antigen presentation via HLA-DM inhibition in humanized mice result in the production of autoreactive naïve B cells. These latter observations suggest that Tregs repress autoreactive naïve B cells continuously produced by the bone marrow. Thus, a model emerges in which both positive and negative selection shape the human naïve B cell repertoire and that each process is mediated by fundamentally different molecular and cellular mechanisms.

Authors

Jeff W. Chen, Jean-Nicolas Schickel, Nikolaos Tsakiris, Joel Sng, Florent Arbogast, Delphine Bouis, Daniele Parisi, Ruchi Gera, Joshua M. Boeckers, Fabien R. Delmotte, Margaret Veselits, Catharina Schuetz, Eva-Maria Jacobsen, Carsten Posovszky, Ansgar S. Schulz, Klaus Schwarz, Marcus R. Clark, Laurence Menard, Eric Meffre