Pathogenic functions of B cells in autoimmune diseases: IFN-γ production joins the criminal gang

B-cell depletion therapy has emerged as a powerful strategy to intercept the progression of T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, or relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. However, its mode of action remains incompletely defined, reflecting our incomplete understanding of the pathogenic functions of B cells in such pathologies. B cells can contribute to immune responses through the production of antibodies, presentation of antigen to T cells, and production of cytokines. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology [Eur. J. Immunol. 2015. 45: 988-998], Olalekan et al. demonstrate that IFN-γ production by B cells is essential for the development of arthritis in mice. Lack of IFN-γ expression in B cells results in reduced autoimmune T-cell responses and autoantibody levels, impacting the arthritogenic reaction akin to that in B-cell depletion therapy. Together with other reports, the article by Olalekan et al. emphasizes the importance of cytokine-producing B cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this commentary, I discuss how these findings shed new light on the roles of B cells as drivers of autoimmune pathogenesis, and how they more generally contribute to our understanding of the role of B cells in immunity.