Accessible chromatin profiles of B cell subsets from healthy and SLE subjects

SLE is characterized by the production of autoantibodies that arise from the B cell lineage. Therefore, we sought to assess the epigenetic and transcriptome profiles of distinct B cell subsets known to be expanded in SLE from healthy and SLE subjects. These data define the differentiation heirarchy of B cell subsets and the epigenetic and transcriptional consequences of SLE on human B cells. Overall design: Five distinct B cell subsets were FACS isolated from a cohort of SLE and HC subjects. For a subset of subjects, circulating Antibody Secreting Cells (ASC) were also isolated for comparisons. Cells were FACS sorted and accessible chromatin profiles determined by ATAC-seq.