title: Related B cell clones populate the meninges and parenchyma of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: In the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis, B cell aggregates populate the meninges, raising the central question as to whether these structures relate to the B cell infiltrates found in parenchymal lesions or instead, represent a separate central nervous system immune compartment. We characterized the repertoires derived from meningeal B cell aggregates and the corresponding parenchymal infiltrates from brain tissue derived primarily from patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. The majority of expanded antigen-experienced B cell clones derived from meningeal aggregates were also present in the parenchyma. We extended this investigation to include 20 grey matter specimens containing meninges, 26 inflammatory plaques, 19 areas of normal appearing white matter and cerebral spinal fluid. Analysis of 1833 B cell receptor heavy chain variable region sequences demonstrated that antigen-experienced clones were consistently shared among these distinct compartments. This study establishes a relationship between extraparenchymal lymphoid tissue and parenchymal infiltrates and defines the arrangement of B cell clones that populate the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lovato
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rodig
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caron
authors.forename: Stefany E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Almendinger
authors.forename: Owain W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hafler
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000276:immunology; D008578:Meninges / Q000276:immunology*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region