Dependence on Autophagy for Autoreactive Memory B Cells in the Development of Pristane-Induced Lupus.

The production of autoantibodies by autoreactive B cells plays a major role in the pathogenesis of lupus. Increases in memory B cells have been observed in human lupus patients and autoimmune mice. Autophagy is required for the maintenance of memory B cells against viral infections; however, whether autophagy regulates the persistence of autoantigen-specific memory B cells and the development of lupus remains to be determined.