What condition occurs in B cells that recognize self-antigens?

When B cells encounter self-antigens, they typically undergo a process known as clonal deletion, which often results in apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This is a critical mechanism for maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases. When B cells recognize antigens that are identical to the body's own proteins, their activation pathways are triggered, but instead of proliferating and producing antibodies against these self-antigens, many of these self-reactive B cells receive signals that initiate apoptosis. This ensures that potentially harmful autoantibodies that could attack the body's own tissues do not develop.

While other mechanisms like anergy and hyperresponsiveness can be relevant in the context of immune responses, the context of "recognizing self-antigens" specifically indicates that apoptosis is the most directly relevant outcome among B cells that respond to such self-antigens.