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Expansion of CD27high plasmablasts in transverse myelitis patients that utilize VH4 and JH6 genes and undergo

A J Ligocki1, W H Rounds, E M Cameron

  • 1Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Genes and Immunity
|April 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Transverse myelitis (TM) patients show unique B-cell changes, including expanded plasmablasts and altered immunoglobulin genetics, not seen in optic neuritis (ON) patients. These findings may explain TM

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) involve B-cell disturbances.
  • Transverse myelitis (TM) and optic neuritis (ON) are common CIS presentations.
  • TM patients exhibit worse clinical outcomes, yet their B-cell profiles remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate B-cell populations and immunoglobulin genetics in CIS patients with TM.
  • To compare B-cell characteristics between TM and ON patients.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood B-cell populations.
  • Characterization of CD27(high) plasmablasts.
  • Assessment of immunoglobulin gene somatic hypermutation and receptor editing in VH4(+) B cells.

Main Results:

  • TM patients displayed a unique expansion of CD27(high) plasmablasts in both CSF and periphery, absent in ON patients.
  • TM patient plasmablasts showed evidence of positive selection and increased somatic hypermutation in VH4(+) B cells.
  • Receptor editing was observed in TM patient B cells, but not in ON patients.

Conclusions:

  • CIS patients with TM have distinct B-cell abnormalities compared to ON patients.
  • These unique B-cell characteristics in TM may contribute to disease severity and progression.
  • Further research into these B-cell differences could inform targeted therapies for MS and CIS.

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