Are Rheumatoid Factors Produced During Conventional Immune Responses Beneficial to the Host?

What role do rheumatoid factors (antibodies to the constant part of antibodies) play during ordinary immune responses? Their presence is a paradox in the framework of the dogma that we do not make antibodies to self-components, especially those components that are present at high concentrations. Audrey Manheimer-Lory and Constantin Bona suggest that rheumatoid factors may exert regulatory properties.