Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVE: METHODS: Fifty-one NMO patients and 42 RRMS patients in an acute relapse phase and 37 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in the study. The B cell expression of B cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R), CXCR5 and very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), the B cell production of interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ and the proportion of circulating memory and CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(high) regulatory B cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of BAFF and CXCL13 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(high) regulatory B cell levels and the B cell expression of IL-10 were significantly lower in NMO patients than in RRMS patients and the HC. In aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-ab)-positive NMO patients, the B cell IL-10 production and CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(high) regulatory B cell levels were even lower than in AQP4-ab-negative NMO patients. The CSF BAFF and CXCL13 levels were significantly higher in NMO patients than in patients with RRMS and other non-inflammatory neurologic diseases (ONDs). CONCLUSIONS: The immuno-regulatory properties of B cells are significantly impaired in NMO patients and particularly in AQP4-ab-positive NMO patients. The elevated CSF levels of BAFF and CXCL13 in NMO suggest an enhanced intrathecal B cell recruitment and activation. Our results further define the distinct immunological nature of NMO and RRMS from the B cell perspective.
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Authors | Chao Quan, Hai Yu, Jian Qiao, Baoguo Xiao, Guixian Zhao, Zhiying Wu, Zhenxin Li, Chuanzhen Lu |
Journal | Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
(Mult Scler)
Vol. 19
Issue 3
Pg. 289-98
(Mar 2013)
ISSN: 1477-0970 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 22864301
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibody Specificity
- B-Lymphocyte Subsets
(immunology, metabolism, pathology)
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Activation
(immunology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multiple Sclerosis
(cerebrospinal fluid, immunology, pathology)
- Neuromyelitis Optica
(cerebrospinal fluid, immunology, pathology)
- Spinal Cord
(immunology, pathology)
- Up-Regulation
(immunology)
- Young Adult
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