Lien Beckers, Belgium

Hasselt University University MS Center
I am a PhD student in the research group of prof. dr. Veerle Somers at the University MS Center (UMSC) of Hasselt University. Prof. Somers' research group focuses on B cell analysis and biomarker discovery in autoimmune and neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, autism spectrum disorder and spinal cord injury. For my PhD project, I investigate the biology of a specific age-associated B cell subset, IgD-CD27- double negative B cells, in multiple sclerosis patients. I have experience with cell culturing, in vitro assays using primary human B cells and multicolor flow cytometry.

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IGD-CD27- DOUBLE NEGATIVE B CELLS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS ARE MATURE MEMORY CELLS THAT CAN MIGRATE TOWARDS PRO-INFLAMMATORY CHEMOKINES

Session Name
PS48 - MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Session Type
PARALLEL SESSIONS
Date
31.05.2021, Monday
Session Time
13:30 - 15:30
Room
HALL B
Lecture Time
13:40 - 13:50
Presenter
Session Icon
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Abstract

Background and Aims

Pro-inflammatory age-associated IgD-CD27- double negative (DN) B cells are abnormally elevated in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study aimed to investigate the developmental and migratory phenotype and function of DN B cells in MS.

Methods

Expression of developmental markers was determined on DN, IgD-CD27+ class-switched memory (CSM) and IgD+CD27- naive B cells of healthy controls (HC, n=48) and MS patients (n=96) by flow cytometry. Pro-inflammatory chemokine receptors and the transcription factor T-bet, previously described in another pathological age-associated B cell subset, were measured on B cell subsets of HC (n=25) and MS patients (n=49). Using an in vitro chemotaxis assay, migration of MS (n=7) B cell subsets was studied.

Results

DN B cells are mature antigen-experienced cells as indicated by low CD5, CD10 and CD38 expression and IgG or IgA expression in the majority of cells. However, IgA+ and activated CD95+ cells were less frequent in DN versus CSM B cells. DN B cells showed the highest T-bet expression and similar expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CXCR5 compared to naive and CSM B cells, respectively. MS DN B cells further showed a high migration capacity towards CXCL10 (CXCR3 ligand) and CXCL13 (CXCR5 ligand) that was similar to CSM B cells.

Conclusions

DN B cells resemble CSM B cells but are at an earlier maturation state. Their potential importance in MS pathology was underlined by their migration towards chemokines important for B cell migration through the blood-brain barrier in MS.

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