Senescent activated naive B cells promote anti-citrullinated antigen T cell responses and the transition to clinical rheumatoid arthritis

This study profiles peripheral B cells from individuals at risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including ACPA-positive converters to clinical RA, ACPA-positive non-converters, and healthy controls, at paired pre and post time points. Using 10x Genomics Chromium single-cell gene expression (scRNA-seq), antibody-derived tag / CITE-seq surface protein profiling, and B cell receptor (BCR) V(D)J sequencing, we characterize activated naive B cell states associated with progression toward clinical RA.