Figure 1

Scheme of potential aberrations of T cell-dependent activation of B cells under the conditions of systemic lupus erythematosus. Intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors may lead to known B-cell hyperactivity as a result of enhanced germinal center reactions with defects in selection. As a net result, enhanced memory B cells and plasmacytosis could be explained and are consistent with abnormalities detectable in the blood of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.