title: B cells in the pathophysiology of autoimmune neurological disorders: a credible therapeutic target.
abstract: There is evidence that B cells are involved in the pathophysiology of many neurological diseases, either in a causative or contributory role, via production of autoantibodies, cytokine secretion, or by acting as antigen-presenting cells leading to T cell activation. Clonal expansion of B cells either in situ or intrathecally and circulating autoantibodies are critical elements in multiple sclerosis (MS), Devic's disease, paraneoplastic central nervous system disorders, stiff-person syndrome, myasthenia gravis, autoimmune demyelinating neuropathies and dermatomyositis. The pathogenic role of B cells and autoantibodies in central and peripheral nervous system disorders, as reviewed here, provides a rationale for investigating whether depletion of B cells with new agents can improve clinical symptomatology and, potentially, restore immune function. Preliminary results from several clinical studies and case reports suggest that B cell depletion may become a viable alternative approach to the treatment of autoimmune neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Diseases Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1382, USA. DalakasM@ninds.nih.gov
authors.forename: Marinos C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dalakas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies