title: Single-cell repertoire analysis demonstrates that clonal expansion is a prominent feature of the B cell response in multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid.
abstract: Single-cell RT-PCR was used to sample CD19(+) B cell repertoires in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or viral meningitis. Analysis of amplified Ab H and L chain products served to identify the rearranged germline segment and J segment, and to determine the degree of homology for the H and L chain sequence of individual B cells. The B cell repertoire of viral meningitis CSF was predominantly polyclonal, whereas B cell clonal expansion was a prominent feature of the IgG repertoire in three of four MS patients. Two dominant clonal populations in one MS CSF accounted for approximately 70% of the IgG H chain V regions sequenced, while the corresponding IgM repertoires were more heterogeneous. One clonal B cell population revealed multiple L chain rearrangements, raising the possibility of a role for receptor editing in shaping the B cell response in some MS patients. The most immediate implications of identifying rearranged Ig sequences in MS B cells is the potential to accurately recreate recombinant Abs from these overrepresented H and L chains that can be used to discover the relevant Ag(s) in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Mail Stop Box B182, Denver, CO 80262, USA. greg.owens@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Alanna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Burgoon
authors.forename: R Anthony
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Corboy
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gilden
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D015328:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Light Chain; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell