Figure 6.

Myelin-reactive antibodies induce oligodendroglial αB-crystallin which, in turn, triggers a protective and tolerizing type I interferon-like response in microglia. Exosomes containing αB-crystallin that are released by antibody-stressed oligodendrocyte activate surrounding microglia via CD14 and TLR2. The protective type I interferon-like response this induces will cause microglia to cluster and it promotes repair and immunological tolerance. It also leads to the release of chemokines that stimulate leucocyte recruitment. Collectively, the unique cocktail of mediators produced by activated microglia and infiltrated leucocytes will promote the formation of B-cell aggregates and ectopic follicles that thus become a persistent local source of antibodies including OCBs (Figure created with Biorender).