Complement receptor CR2/CR1 deficiency protects mice from collagen-induced arthritis and associates with reduced autoantibodies to type II collagen and citrullinated antigens.

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a model of autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, depends upon complement activation and effective B cell responses. To determine the importance of complement receptors CR2/CR1 in CIA, the Cr2-/- genotype was backcrossed onto the DBA/1j strain. CIA was induced by immunization with bovine type II collagen in CFA on days 0 and 21.

The primary germinal center response in mice.

The germinal center (GC) is an important anatomical site for the development of high affinity antibodies during T-cell dependent B cell responses. Although the importance of the GC response to humoral immunity is well known, much remains to be elucidated about GC induction, maintenance and regulation. Recent studies examining the GC response in mice have identified key molecules expressed on follicular dendritic cells that support the differentiation of GC B cells, revealed essential chemokines that direct the organization of light and dark zones, and demonstrated potentially novel roles for TNF family members in the differentiation of GC B cells.