Figure 3.

The role of autophagy in the function of self–reactive B cells. Developmentally, upregulated autophagy is thought to enable autoimmune B cell precursors to subvert apoptotic checkpoints. In mature B cells, autophagy appears to mediate both the presentation of self–peptides by B cells, and the recognition of innate immune ligands such as nucleic acids. It is also likely that autophagy contributes to metabolic homeostasis and control of the misfolded protein load in plasma cells.