Defective Early B Cell Tolerance Checkpoints in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis Allow the Production of <scp>Self Antigen</scp>–Specific Clones

Abstract

Defective counterselection of developing autoreactive naive B cells in SSc leads to the production of self antigen-specific B cells that may secrete autoantibodies and allow the formation of immune complexes, which promote fibrosis in SSc.