Investigation of the adaptive immune response in multiple sclerosis

[摘要] In multiple sclerosis (MS), clonally-expanded brain-resident B cells may sustain chronic disease, however their relative contributions versus recently recruited B cells is unclear. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory CD20+ T cells may also be involved in MS pathogenesis. This study aimed to characterise the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) B cell response in MS and investigate the features of CD20+ T cells. CSF B cells and antibody-secreting cells (ASC) displayed an activated phenotype and were identified in MS CSF at a higher frequency than controls. In contrast to the periphery, CSF ASC almost exclusively expressed IgG and were strongly lgK-biased, whereas memory B cells displayed similar immunoglobulin expression profiles in both compartments. MS CSF antibodies were frequently reactive towards EBNA-1, which preferentially induced an lgK-biased antibody response. Finally, CD20+ T cells displayed a highly activated effector phenotype and were present in the CSF, although their frequencies were no different between MS and OND groups. These findings suggest that most CSF B cells result from non-specific recruitment, whereas ASC are involved in a persistent lgK-biased antigen-driven immune response, which may primarily be directed towards EBNA-1. Despite their highly activated phenotype, a role for CD20+ T cells in MS pathogenesis, if any, remains to be determined.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:Institute of Inflammation and Ageing

[关键词] Q Science;QR Microbiology;QR180 Immunology