Annals of Medicine

B Cells: Driver of Autoimmunity

B cells are key players in the adaptive immune system by presenting antigens to T cells, producing antibodies, and secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines. The production of autoantibodies by B cells is due to a defect in central tolerance; hence, targeting self-antigens makes them a central molecule to regulate autoimmunity. Different B cell therapies have been developed using rituximab and type II new anti-CD22 antibodies, anti-CD19 antibodies, anti-CD20 antibodies, autoantigen-specific B cell depleting therapy (chimeric antigen receptor T cells), and B cell receptor signaling inhibition (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors) to overcome autoimmunity. However, in certain circumstances, B-cell depleting therapy may worsen the autoimmune disease, through disruption of the regulatory B-cell population.

Approximately 5-10% of the population worldwide is affected by autoimmune disorders, the distribution of which displays a gender imbalance, affecting more females than males. Autoreactive B cells give rise to autoreactive plasma cells that secrete IgG+ autoantibodies and play a central role in disease pathogenesis by reacting to self-antigens. Further advances in human B-cell biology will help us target these autoreactive B cells and improve B-cell tolerance checkpoints. Different B cell depletion therapies and B cell inhibitors like Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ibrutinib, etc.) can help eliminate autoreactive B cells.

This Article Collection welcomes articles related to the B-cell role in autoimmunity, B-cell depletion therapies, and B-cell signaling molecule inhibitors like Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) to overcome autoimmunity. This topic will focus on B-cell therapies in various autoimmune disorders with a special focus on B cells' contributions to various components of these subjects, encompassing but not limited to the following themes:

•  How autoantibodies secreted by B cells contribute to autoimmunity
•  How other partners of B cells, like T cells, contribute to the progression of autoimmunity
• Modulation of antigen processing and presentation by B cells in autoimmune disorders
•  The role of cytokines secreted by B cells in autoimmune disorders
•  How B-cell signaling plays a significant role in the progression of autoimmunity
•  B-cell therapies in various autoimmune disorders

Key words:

1. B cell
2. Autoimmunity
3. Autoantibodies
4. Cytokines
5. B cell signalling

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). The Guest Advisors declare no Conflict of Interests.

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 30th August 2026.

Please contact Commissioning Editor Francis Straw at [email protected] with any queries about APC discounts regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system. Please select Immunology from the list of available sections during submission. Failure to select the appropriate Article Collection or Section name can result in delays.