Molecular and functional analyses of human synovial B-lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting the smaller and larger joints, eventually crippling the patient. One characteristic of the RA synovialitis is the formation of ectopic germinal centers, which might contribute to the breakdown of self-tolerance and to perpetuate a local self-antigen driven B-lymphocyte maturation. Thus, using tissue samples from RA patients, we were able to detect B-lymphocytes producing autoantibodies specific for a cartilage antigen, and that there might be a cyclic re-entry of mature synovial B-lymphocytes in the hypermutation process.

Population dynamics of Mutator Bacteria.

Not Supplied.

Dynamics of antigenically diverse pathogens: Are we really learning anything?

Not Supplied.