title: The role of B cells in multiple sclerosis: implications for B-cell-targeted therapy.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Although most studies have emphasized the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of MS, increasing evidence supports the concept that B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of MS, mainly in association with the deposition of antibodies and the activation of complement. Emerging pathophysiological findings of B-cell, follicle-like structures in the meninges of patients and observations of decreased interleukin (IL)-10 production from naïve B cells in MS have recently been reported. As more knowledge is gained of the pathophysiology of B cells in MS, the mechanisms of B-cell-mediated neuropharmacology of current therapy had been clarified as well. In this article, we review the increasing evidence that points to a link between B cells and MS, and also discuss the potential of B-cell-targeted therapy in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kitaku, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirotani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niino
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016753:Interleukin-10; D003165:Complement System Proteins