Microenvironmental regulation of the antibody response in health and disease

This thesis explores the relationship between the inflammatory microenvironment and the antibody response. I identified a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmunity, showing BMI-1 inhibition reduced antibody-secreting cells and decreased pathogenic antibody. I also investigated the antibody response in patients suffering from post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (“Long-COVID”), where I found the B cell response to be dysregulated. Finally, I examined the regulatory role of the inflammatory microenvironment and antibody glycosylation. Together, the results from my thesis highlight the importance of tight microenvironmental regulation of B cells to avoid pathogenesis.