On the implications of polyclonal B cell activation

摘要

Hunziker et al, with their customary elegance of technique, have presented important new data about an old question: the relationship between chronic viral infection and an accompanying polyclonal activation of B cells and hyperglobulinemia. They confirm earlier evidence that: (i) persisting viral infection leads to polyclonal B cell activation; (ii) the mechanism for this nonspecific activation involves the participation of virus-specific helper T cells; and (iii) viral infection is often accompanied by the production of anti-self antibodies and autoimmune disease.