The expression of BAFF-binding receptors is not altered in multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by consistent myelin injury. Antibody-mediated death of oligodendrocytes is a pathological feature in a subset of MS patients and may be of relevance to disease pathogenesis. In myasthenia gravis (MG), acetylcholine receptors (AChR) situated at the neuromuscular endplate are destroyed by autoreactive antibodies. B-cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (BAFF) is essential for B-cell survival. Using flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of three BAFF-binding receptors, namely, BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), and transmembrane activator and calcium modulating and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) in peripheral-blood lymphocytes. Nearly all CD19(+) B cells and CD19(+)CD27(+) memory B cells expressed BAFF-R. The intensity of BAFF-R expression was not statistically different in MS or MG compared with healthy controls. Very few T cells expressed BAFF-R. BCMA expression was strictly limited to B cells. Although both B and T cells expressed TACI, levels were much higher on B cells compared with levels on T cells. The percentages of B and T cells expressing BCMA and TACI did not differ significantly in MS or MG versus controls. We conclude that the expression of BAFF-binding receptors is not appreciably altered in MS or MG.
Thangarajh
M
M
Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. mathula.thangarajh@ki.se
Kisiswa
L
L
Pirskanen
R
R
Hillert
J
J
D000328:Adult; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology
D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor