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Specific antigen binding by activated cerebrospinal fluid B lymphocytes in acute neuroborreliosis
W Beuche1, A Siever, K Felgenhauer
1Abteilung für Neurologie, Universität, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Insights
A new test identifies specific activated B lymphocytes in neuroborreliosis patients. These cells are more abundant in cerebrospinal fluid than blood, especially during active infection, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Neuroborreliosis is a tick-borne illness affecting the nervous system.
- Diagnosing neuroborreliosis often involves analyzing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Identifying specific immune responses within the CSF is crucial for understanding disease activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel immunocytochemical assay for detecting specific activated B lymphocytes.
- To compare the presence of these cells in CSF versus peripheral blood in acute neuroborreliosis.
- To correlate B lymphocyte activation with disease stage and intrathecal immunoglobulin production.
Main Methods:
- Application of an antigen-binding sandwich test to CSF and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
- Utilized double staining with monoclonal antibodies to differentiate antigen-binding phagocytes.
- Quantified specific activated B lymphocytes in relation to disease status.
Main Results:
- Specific activated B lymphocytes were significantly more prevalent in CSF compared to peripheral blood.
- High interindividual variability was observed in cell counts.
- Elevated numbers of specific activated B lymphocytes correlated with the presence of intrathecal immunoglobulin production.
- The specificity of activated B lymphocytes was higher during the acute phase of neuroborreliosis than post-treatment.
Conclusions:
- The developed immunocytochemical test is effective for identifying specific activated B lymphocytes in neuroborreliosis.
- CSF analysis reveals a distinct B lymphocyte activation pattern in neuroborreliosis, indicative of localized immune response.
- This method shows potential for monitoring disease activity and treatment response in neuroborreliosis.
Abstract:
A recently developed immunocytochemical antigen-binding sandwich test for the identification of specific activated B lymphocytes was applied to cerebrospinal fluid cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with acute neuroborreliosis. Discrimination of antigen-binding phagocytes was achieved by double staining with monoclonal antibodies. Specific activated B lymphocytes were much more numerous in cerebrospinal fluid than in blood, showing great interindividual differences. When intrathecal immunoglobulin production was present, the number of specific activated B lymphocytes was also high. The specificity of all activated B lymphocytes ranged from 10% to 60% and was higher in the acute stage than after treatment.