title: B-cells and humoral immunity in multiple sclerosis. Implications for therapy.
abstract: B-cells and humoral immunity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. The most common pattern of demyelinating pathology in multiple sclerosis is associated with the deposition of antibodies and the activation of complement, as well as T-cells and macrophages. Plasmapheresis has been found to be an efficient therapeutic approach in patients with this type of pathological lesion. Recent data have indicated that autoantibodies and complement C5b-9 may be involved in lesion formation and might also be beneficial for lesion repair. Thus, the role played by B-cells and humoral immunity is rather complex, and new strategies for targeting B-cell responses are continuing to emerge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Sangjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cudrici
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Horea
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000276:immunology; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D003165:Complement System Proteins