Fc Receptor-Like 6 (FCRL6) Discloses Progenitor B Cell Heterogeneity That Correlates With Pre-BCR Dependent and Independent Pathways of Natural Antibody Selection.

B-1a cells produce "natural" antibodies (Abs) to neutralize pathogens and clear neo self-antigens, but the fundamental selection mechanisms that shape their polyreactive repertoires are poorly understood. Here, we identified a B cell progenitor subset defined by Fc receptor-like 6 (FCRL6) expression, harboring innate-like defense, migration, and differentiation properties conducive for natural Ab generation. Compared to FCRL6 pro B cells, the repressed mitotic, DNA damage repair, and signaling activity of FCRL6 progenitors, yielded V repertoires with biased distal segment accessibility, constrained diversity, and hydrophobic and charged CDR-H3 sequences. Beyond nascent autoreactivity, V11 productivity, which predominates phosphatidylcholine-specific B-1a B cell receptors (BCRs), was higher for FCRL6 cells as was pre-BCR formation, which was required for Myc induction and V11, but not V12, B-1a development. Thus, FCRL6 revealed unexpected heterogeneity in the developmental origins, regulation, and selection of natural Abs at the pre-BCR checkpoint with implications for autoimmunity and lymphoproliferative disorders.