title: Interleukin-10 producing-B cells and their association with responsiveness to rituximab in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A subset of regulatory B cells in humans and mice has been defined functionally by their ability to produce interleukin (IL)-10. We characterized IL-10-producing B (B10) cells in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and correlated them with disease activity and responsiveness to rituximab therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequencies of B10 cells from MG patients and healthy controls were monitored by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MG patients had fewer B10 cells than controls, which was associated with more severe disease status. Moreover, patients who responded well to rituximab therapy exhibited rapid repopulation of B10 cells, whereas in patients who did not respond well to rituximab, B10 cell repopulation was delayed. The kinetics of B10 cells were related to the responsiveness to rituximab in MG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have characterized a specific subset of B10 cells in MG patients which may serve as a marker for disease activity and responsiveness to immune therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shafeeq S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ladha
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Samuel Xiang-Yu
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bomprezzi
authors.forename: Fu-Dong
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015415:Biomarkers; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016753:Interleukin-10; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: B10 cells; FACS; MG; MGFA; Rituximab