Involvement of inducible costimulator in the exaggerated memory B cell and plasma cell generation in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Detailed analysis of B cells with down-regulated ICOS-L suggests that ICOS is one of the forces driving the formation of memory B cells and plasma cells in SLE. Furthermore, our identification of plasma cells in areas of T cell-B cell interaction in kidneys suggests that components of a T cell-driven B cell activation process may take place in peripheral tissues in SLE.