Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function
B cells, plasma cells and antibodies may play a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This notion is supported by various immunological changes observed in MS patients, such as activation and pro-inflammatory differentiation of peripheral blood B cells, the persistence of clonally...
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doaj-1e626f004c0a4f44acc42636480ec2bf2020-11-24T22:08:53ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1422-00672017-09-011810204810.3390/ijms18102048ijms18102048Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic FunctionKlaus Lehmann-Horn0Silke Kinzel1Martin S. Weber2Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, GermanyInstitute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, 37099 Göttingen, GermanyInstitute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, 37099 Göttingen, GermanyB cells, plasma cells and antibodies may play a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This notion is supported by various immunological changes observed in MS patients, such as activation and pro-inflammatory differentiation of peripheral blood B cells, the persistence of clonally expanded plasma cells producing immunoglobulins in the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as the composition of inflammatory central nervous system lesions frequently containing co-localizing antibody depositions and activated complement. In recent years, the perception of a respective pathophysiological B cell involvement was vividly promoted by the empirical success of anti-CD20-mediated B cell depletion in clinical trials; based on these findings, the first monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody—ocrelizumab—is currently in the process of being approved for treatment of MS. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of B cells, plasma cells and antibodies in MS and elucidate how approved and future treatments, first and foremost anti-CD20 antibodies, therapeutically modify these B cell components. We will furthermore describe regulatory functions of B cells in MS and discuss how the evolving knowledge of these therapeutically desirable B cell properties can be harnessed to improve future safety and efficacy of B cell-directed therapy in MS.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/18/10/2048multiple sclerosisB cellsantibodiesantigen presenting cellsanti-CD20plasma cellsB cell therapiesexperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisregulatory B cells |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Klaus Lehmann-Horn Silke Kinzel Martin S. Weber |
spellingShingle |
Klaus Lehmann-Horn Silke Kinzel Martin S. Weber Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function International Journal of Molecular Sciences multiple sclerosis B cells antibodies antigen presenting cells anti-CD20 plasma cells B cell therapies experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis regulatory B cells |
author_facet |
Klaus Lehmann-Horn Silke Kinzel Martin S. Weber |
author_sort |
Klaus Lehmann-Horn |
title |
Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function |
title_short |
Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function |
title_full |
Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function |
title_fullStr |
Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function |
title_full_unstemmed |
Deciphering the Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis—Towards Specific Targeting of Pathogenic Function |
title_sort |
deciphering the role of b cells in multiple sclerosis—towards specific targeting of pathogenic function |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
issn |
1422-0067 |
publishDate |
2017-09-01 |
description |
B cells, plasma cells and antibodies may play a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This notion is supported by various immunological changes observed in MS patients, such as activation and pro-inflammatory differentiation of peripheral blood B cells, the persistence of clonally expanded plasma cells producing immunoglobulins in the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as the composition of inflammatory central nervous system lesions frequently containing co-localizing antibody depositions and activated complement. In recent years, the perception of a respective pathophysiological B cell involvement was vividly promoted by the empirical success of anti-CD20-mediated B cell depletion in clinical trials; based on these findings, the first monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody—ocrelizumab—is currently in the process of being approved for treatment of MS. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of B cells, plasma cells and antibodies in MS and elucidate how approved and future treatments, first and foremost anti-CD20 antibodies, therapeutically modify these B cell components. We will furthermore describe regulatory functions of B cells in MS and discuss how the evolving knowledge of these therapeutically desirable B cell properties can be harnessed to improve future safety and efficacy of B cell-directed therapy in MS. |
topic |
multiple sclerosis B cells antibodies antigen presenting cells anti-CD20 plasma cells B cell therapies experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis regulatory B cells |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/18/10/2048 |
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