Autoreactive B cells in the marginal zone that express dual receptors

Allotype and isotype exclusion is a property of most lymphocytes. The reason for this property is not known but it guarantees a high concentration of a single receptor, and threshold numbers of receptors may be required for efficient positive and negative selection. Receptor editing compromises exclusion by sustaining recombination even after a functional receptor is formed. Consequently, B cells expressing multiple receptors arise. We have studied such B cells in which one of the two receptors is anti-self; and find that these partially autoreactive B cells accumulate in the marginal zone. The restriction of these cells in this location may help to prevent them from undergoing diversification and developing into fully autoreactive B cells.