Self-Reactive B Cells Can Be Eliminated from the Repertoire at Several

question 14

Multiple Choice

Self-reactive B cells can be eliminated from the repertoire at several stages of B cell maturation, including immature B cells that have already emigrated from the bone marrow into the circulation. This latter stage of tolerance induction is critical because:

• A) Not all self-antigens are expressed or present in the bone marrow during B cell development.
• B) Immature circulating B cells are more sensitive to antigen stimulation than the developing B cells in the bone marrow.
• C) Receptor editing is not a perfect process and some self-reactive B cells may fail to be eliminated in the bone marrow.
• D) Circulating immature B cells do not encounter tissue-specific antigens in peripheral organs and tissues.
• E) Immature B cells are trapped in the bone marrow by strong B-cell receptor cross-linking.