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Published on: October 13, 2023
Helminth infections associated with multiple sclerosis induce regulatory B cells
Jorge Correale1, Mauricio Farez, Gabriela Razzitte
1Department of Neurology, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research (FLENI), Buenos Aires, Argentina. jcorreale@fleni.org.ar
Annals of Neurology
|July 26, 2008
Summary
Helminth infections in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients induce B cells to produce IL-10, dampening harmful immunity. These B cells also secrete neurotrophic factors, potentially offering neuroprotection in MS.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Parasitology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
- The role of B cells and parasitic infections in modulating MS pathogenesis is not fully understood.
- Environmental factors are known to influence MS prevalence and severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of B cells in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with helminth infections.
- To assess the impact of parasite-induced immune modulation on MS.
- To explore potential neuroprotective mechanisms mediated by B cells.
Main Methods:
- Purification of peripheral blood CD19+ B cells from MS patients with and without helminth infections, and from control groups.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure cytokine secretion (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha, etc.).
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays for antibody production and flow cytometry for cell phenotype analysis.
Main Results:
- Helminth infections in MS patients led to a B-cell population producing high levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), which suppressed harmful immune responses via the ICOS-B7RP-1 pathway.
- These IL-10-producing B cells exhibited a phenotype similar to mature naive B2 cells (CD1dhigh, CD11b-, CD5-, CD27-, IgD+).
- B cells from infected MS patients produced significantly higher amounts of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Parasite-induced B-cell production of IL-10 and neurotrophic factors represents a host immune regulation mechanism.
- These B-cell-derived factors may alter the course of MS, potentially explaining reduced MS prevalence in endemic areas.
- B cells in helminth-infected MS patients may exert a neuroprotective effect on the central nervous system.
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