B Cell and T Cell Convergence for Autoantibody Neogenesis

Moderator(s)

• 

  Alessandra Pernis, MD

  Internal Medicine Specialist
  Hospital for Special Surgery

Speaker(s)

• 

  Pamela Schwartzberg, MD, PhD

  National Institutes of Health
• PC

  Paolo Casali, MD

  University of Texas Long School of Medicine
• JB

  Jeremy Boss

  Emory University

Carefully orchestrated interactions between T cells and B cells are critical for effective humoral responses. Abnormalities in the cross-talk between T cells and B cells play a fundamental role in the production of autoantibodies. Follicular T helper cells are a specialized subset that helps germinal center B cells and promotes their differentiation toward plasma cells. Faculty at this session will review current knowledge of the key features of follicular T helper cells, germinal center B cells and plasma cells, and will discuss these cells' involvement in autoimmune diseases.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the role of follicular T helper cells in autoimmunity
• Explain new mechanisms controlling the generation of germinal center B cells in autoimmunity
• Appraise novel pathways controlling the formation of plasma cells in autoimmunity

Presentations:

• 11:00 AM – 11:15 AM ET

  Role of T Follicular Helper Cells in Autoimmunity
  Pamela Schwartzberg, MD, PhD – National Institutes of Health
• 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM ET

  Epigenetic regulation of AID and the autoantibody response by the histone deacetylase Sirt1
  Paolo Casali, MD – University of Texas Long School of Medicine
• 11:30 AM – 11:45 AM ET

  Epigenetics and transcriptomics of SLE
  Jeremy Boss – Emory University
• 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM ET

  Q&A