B cells from patients with multiple sclerosis have a pathogenic phenotype and increased LTα and TGFβ1 response

TY - JOUR

T1 - B cells from patients with multiple sclerosis have a pathogenic phenotype and increased LTα and TGFβ1 response

AU - McWilliam, Oskar

AU - Sellebjerg, Finn

AU - Marquart, Hanne V.

AU - von Essen, Marina Rode

PY - 2018/11/15

Y1 - 2018/11/15

N2 - The contribution of B cells to the pathogenesis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is currently of great interest due to the positive outcomes of treatment with B cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies. In this exploratory study we examined the phenotype and cytokine response of B cells from untreated patients with RRMS and healthy controls. The CNS migration potential of the individual blood B cell subpopulations was evaluated according to the expression of CD49d, ALCAM, CXCR3, and CCR7, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed to establish the phenotype of migrated B cells. The frequency of the individual blood B cell subsets expressing CD5, CD43, CD69, CD80, CD83, DC-SIGN and CD138 was similar in patients with RRMS and healthy controls. However, a higher percentage of CD27-IgD-IgM+ memory B cells were found in the blood of patients with RRMS, a population also identified in the CSF samples. We also observed an increased percentage of B cells producing LTα and a higher level of TGFβ1 in patients with RRMS. Altogether, we found that patients with RRMS have an increased frequency of blood CD27-IgD-IgM+ memory B cells that are recruited to the CSF together with other memory B cell populations. Furthermore, we report an increased B cell production of LTα and TGFβ1 in patients with RRMS.

AB - The contribution of B cells to the pathogenesis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is currently of great interest due to the positive outcomes of treatment with B cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies. In this exploratory study we examined the phenotype and cytokine response of B cells from untreated patients with RRMS and healthy controls. The CNS migration potential of the individual blood B cell subpopulations was evaluated according to the expression of CD49d, ALCAM, CXCR3, and CCR7, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed to establish the phenotype of migrated B cells. The frequency of the individual blood B cell subsets expressing CD5, CD43, CD69, CD80, CD83, DC-SIGN and CD138 was similar in patients with RRMS and healthy controls. However, a higher percentage of CD27-IgD-IgM+ memory B cells were found in the blood of patients with RRMS, a population also identified in the CSF samples. We also observed an increased percentage of B cells producing LTα and a higher level of TGFβ1 in patients with RRMS. Altogether, we found that patients with RRMS have an increased frequency of blood CD27-IgD-IgM+ memory B cells that are recruited to the CSF together with other memory B cell populations. Furthermore, we report an increased B cell production of LTα and TGFβ1 in patients with RRMS.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.09.001

DO - 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.09.001

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30244922

SN - 0165-5728

VL - 324

SP - 157

EP - 164

JO - Journal of Neuroimmunology

JF - Journal of Neuroimmunology

ER -