B  cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Studies using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis have highlighted the activities of B  cells in multiple sclerosis, including the production of autoantibodies, antigen presentation to T cells, secretion of effector cytokines, recognition of microbe-associated molecules and the induction of ectopic lymphoid follicles in the meninges. AbstractB  cells have been implicated in the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS) since initial observations in the 1940s of elevated immunoglobulin concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients. However, the precise mechanism of their involvement has not been elucidated until recently, mainly owi ng to the technical difficulty of studying this cell population in humans. In this context, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a putative animal model of MS, has profoundly contributed to our understanding of B cells in this disease. B cells are now recognized to contribute to MS pat hology through the production of autoantibodies, antigen presentation to T cells, secretion of effector cytokines, recognition of microbe-associated molecules and the induction of ectopic lymphoid follicles in the meninges. All these activities of B cells in MS have been recapitulated in various t ypes of EAE models. Although EAE does not reflect all aspects of MS, it is a useful tool to dissect the complex pathology of this disease if the model selected appropriately reflects the aspect of MS under interest. This is especially true for...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: INVITED REVIEW Source Type: research