Table 1.

Antibody-dependent and independent roles of B cells in autoimmune disorders.

–Production of autoantibodies that that form pathogenic immune complexes –Secretion of autoantibodies that bind in situ to target autoantigens –Generation of autoantibodies that act as catalytic antibodies –High autoantigen presentation capacity to T cells –Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines –Enhancement of dendritic cell antigen presentation ability –Provision of cognate help for autoreactive T cells –Induction of inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells –Maintenance of T cell memory –Inhibition of regulatory T cells –Organization of tertiary lymphoid tissues and ectopic germinal centers

B cell subsets are endowed with various functions that can contribute to the generation and/or the amplification of autoimmune diseases.