Beyond the surface - Autoreactive B cells in human autoimmune diseases
Authors' conclusion
Immune phenotyping of disease-specific, autoreactive B cells reveals heterogeneous features of human autoimmunity that reflect disease stage and course and that are only revealed upon antigen-specific cellular analysis.
Study context
- Population
- Cohorts with well-defined clinical phenotypes of RA, including the phase preceding disease and long-term, drugfree remission
- Outcome
- Phenotype and function of autoreactive B cells against post-translationally modified proteins
Methodological detailsantigen-specific identification, conventional and spectral flow cytometry
- Antigen-specific identification
- Conventional and spectral flow cytometry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Remarkably activated effector memory cells in established disease, maintained throughout the disease course
- Activation generates cytokine-secreting germinal center emigrants that resist conventional therapy, and migratory plasmablasts expressing homing markers
- Pre-clinical at-risk phase: lower degree of activation, migratory plasmablasts less frequent
- Cross-reactive to different posttranslational modifications; B cell receptors extensively glycosylated in the variable domain
Original publication
Beyond the surface - Autoreactive B cells in human autoimmune diseases. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 22 November 2023. doi:10.
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