{
  "abstract": "Autoreactive germinal centers (GCs) are central to autoimmune pathogenesis, yet the mechanisms by which single autoreactive B cell clones prime systemic autoimmunity remain unclear. Using the 564Igi mixed chimera model, we demonstrate that autoreactive 564Igi B cells break tolerance in wild-type B cells through an unexpected mechanism independent of cognate T cell interactions. While B cell-intrinsic TLR7 signaling was essential for spontaneous GC formation, deletion of MHC class II, CD40, or CD80/86 on GC-priming 564Igi B cells failed to prevent GCs. Instead, CRISPR-mediated deletion of Prdm1 (encoding BLIMP-1) in 564Igi B cells ablated spontaneous GCs, implicating autoantibody production as the primary driver. These findings reveal that autoantibodies can initiate feed-forward mechanisms that propagate systemic autoimmunity, independent of B cell-intrinsic antigen presentation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Seattle Children's Research Institute"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "D. Kim"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Chiang"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. D. Largent"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. A. Pitner"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. M. Ponnan"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. J. McKinney"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. G. James"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. J. Rawlings"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. W. Jackson"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10zg6bzjtfbf1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.08.27.745373",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.745373v1.full",
  "id": "10zg6bzjtfbf1",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.745373v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "immunology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|T-cell and B-cell Immunology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7205008222",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.745373v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-27",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10zg6bzjtfbf1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:27Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.08.27.745373",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.745373v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Antibody-dependent priming of spontaneous germinal centers by autoreactive B cells",
  "title_text": "Antibody-dependent priming of spontaneous germinal centers by autoreactive B cells",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:27Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10zg6bzjtfbf1",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}