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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Quantification of Autoreactive Antibodies in Mice upon Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: December 1, 2023
MicroRNAs prevent the generation of autoreactive antibodies
Laura Belver1, Virginia G de Yébenes, Almudena R Ramiro
1DNA Hypermutation and Cancer Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs have been shown to be critical for a number of aspects of immune system regulation and function. Here, we have examined the role of microRNAs in terminal B cell differentiation by analyzing Cd19-Cre(ki/+) Dicer1(fl/fl) mice. We found that in the absence of Dicer, the transitional and marginal zone (MZ) B cell compartments were overrepresented and follicular (FO) B cell generation was impaired. microRNA analysis revealed that miR185, a microRNA overexpressed in FO cells, dampened B cell receptor (BCR) signaling through Bruton tyrosine kinase downregulation. Dicer-deficient B cells had a skewed BCR repertoire with hallmarks of autoreactivity, which correlated with high titers of autoreactive antibodies in serum and autoimmune features in females. Together, our results reveal a crucial role for microRNAs in late B cell differentiation and in the establishment of B cell tolerance.
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