Final answer:
Negative selection in the bone marrow leads to the elimination of self-reactive B cells through apoptosis or other means to prevent autoimmunity. Peripheral tolerance also ensures that mature B cells that may bind to self-antigens are prevented from causing an immune response against the body's own tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
If after exhausting the receptor-editing process in the bone marrow a given B cell produces a receptor that binds to multivalent self antigen, the B cell will be eliminated to prevent an autoimmune response. This elimination occurs through a process known as negative selection which can lead to the induction of apoptosis, receptor editing, or anergy in self-reactive B cells. The immune tolerance mechanisms ensure that only B cells with non-self-reactive receptors become mature B cells and are allowed to exit the bone marrow and function in the immune system.
Peripheral tolerance is another safety measure that ensures mature B cells which have left the bone marrow do not attack self tissues. If a mature B cell binds to a self-antigen but does not receive the necessary activation signals from helper T cells, it is signaled to undergo apoptosis. This process, greatly influenced by T cell activity, further prevents the development of autoimmunity.