TY - JOUR
T1 - Translational Mini-Review Series on B cell subsets in disease. B cells in multiple sclerosis
T2 - Drivers of disease pathogenesis and Trojan horse for Epstein-Barr virus entry to the central nervous system?
AU - Meier, U. C.
AU - Giovannoni, G.
AU - Tzartos, J. S.
AU - Khan, G.
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - The recent success of therapies directed at B cells has highlighted their potential as central players in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Exciting new data showed that B cell depletion led to reduced clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity. However, the mechanisms of action remain unknown, but could involve autoantibody production, antigen presentation and/or cytokine production by B cells. Another exciting line of investigation in the field of MS comes from latent infection of memory B cells by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These cells are hijacked as 'Trojan horses' and 'smuggle' the virus into the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, these new anti B cell treatments will also be likely to have anti-viral effects. We briefly review recent findings in the field of MS pathogenesis, and highlight promising new targets for therapeutic intervention in MS.
AB - The recent success of therapies directed at B cells has highlighted their potential as central players in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Exciting new data showed that B cell depletion led to reduced clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity. However, the mechanisms of action remain unknown, but could involve autoantibody production, antigen presentation and/or cytokine production by B cells. Another exciting line of investigation in the field of MS comes from latent infection of memory B cells by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). These cells are hijacked as 'Trojan horses' and 'smuggle' the virus into the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, these new anti B cell treatments will also be likely to have anti-viral effects. We briefly review recent findings in the field of MS pathogenesis, and highlight promising new targets for therapeutic intervention in MS.
KW - B cells
KW - Epstein-Barr virus
KW - Multiple sclerosis
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2011.04446.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2011.04446.x
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22132878
AN - SCOPUS:82655171685
SN - 0009-9104
VL - 167
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
JF - Clinical and Experimental Immunology
IS - 1
ER -