The epigenetic landscape of B lymphocyte tolerance to self.

Moncef Zouali

Inserm UMR-S 606, F-75475 Paris, France. moncef.zouali@wanadoo.fr

FEBS letters 2013 Jun 27

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Despite frequent exposures to a variety of potential triggers, including antigens produced by pathogens or commensal microbiota, B-lymphocytes are able to mount highly protective responses to a variety of threats, while remaining tolerant to self-components. A number of cytokines, signaling pathways and transcription factors have been characterized to elucidate the mechanisms underlying B cell tolerance to self. It is, however, unclear how the signals received by B-lymphocytes are converted into complex and sustained patterns of gene expression that can allow production of protective antibodies and maintain immune tolerance to self-components. Mounting evidence now suggests an important role for epigenetic mechanisms in modulating and transmitting signals for B lymphocyte tolerization to self-antigens. It is likely that a better insight into epigenetic regulation of B cell tolerance will lead to development of gene-specific therapeutic approaches that optimize host defense mechanisms to exogenous threats, while preventing development and/or progression of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2013 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.