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Published on: January 20, 2019
Black African and Latino/a identity correlates with increased plasmablasts in MS
Kiel M Telesford1, Ulrike W Kaunzner2, Jai Perumal2
1From the Brain and Mind Research Institute (K.M.T., T.V.), Weill Cornell Medicine; Department of Neurology (K.M.T., U.W.K., J.P., S.A.G., M.K.-H., C.E., M.M., T.V.), Weill Cornell Medicine; and Department of Healthcare Policy and Research (X.W., I.D.), Weill Cornell Medicine, New York. kit2003@med.cornell.edu tiv2002@med.cornell.edu.
Black African and Latin American individuals with relapsing-remitting MS have higher antibody-secreting cell (ASC) frequencies. This suggests distinct MS immunopathogenesis and may explain disease disparities.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Genetics
Background:
- Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) disproportionately affects certain ethnic groups.
- Understanding immunopathogenesis across diverse populations is crucial for equitable MS care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between self-reported Black African and Latin American identity and peripheral blood antibody-secreting cell (ASC) frequency in relapsing-remitting MS.
- To explore potential immunopathogenic mechanisms contributing to MS disparities.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 74 individuals with MS and 24 healthy donors (HDs).
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells analyzed for ASC subsets using flow cytometry.
- Subjects with MS were either off therapy or on natalizumab.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated circulating plasmablast frequencies were observed in individuals with MS identifying as Black African or Latin American compared to those of Caucasian ancestry.
- These ethno-ancestry-specific differences in ASC frequency were unique to individuals with MS and not observed in HDs.
- Increased ASCs, including IgM+ and class-switched CD138+ subsets, were linked to poorer MS prognosis and active disease.
Conclusions:
- An enhanced peripheral blood plasmablast signature in Black African or Latin American individuals with MS suggests distinct immunopathogenic mechanisms.
- This immune dysregulation may contribute to the observed disease disparities in these patient populations.
- Further research into ethno-ancestry-specific MS immunopathogenesis is warranted.
