title: The effect of glatiramer acetate therapy on functional properties of B cells from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes what is, to our knowledge, the previously unknown effect of glatiramer acetate therapy on B cells in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether glatiramer acetate therapy normalizes dysregulated B-cell proliferation and cytokine production in patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with MS who were receiving glatiramer acetate therapy and 22 treatment-naive patients with MS were recruited at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center MS clinic. Cell samples from healthy donors were obtained from HemaCare (Van Nuys, California) or Carter Blood Bank (Dallas, Texas). Treatment-naive patients with MS had not received any disease-modifying therapies for at least 3 months before the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glatiramer acetate therapy for at least 3 months at the time of the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  B-cell phenotype and proliferation and immunoglobulin and cytokine secretion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A restoration of interleukin 10 production by peripheral B cells was observed in patients undergoing glatiramer acetate therapy as well as a significant reduction of interleukin 6 production in a subset of patients who received therapy for less than 32 months. Furthermore, proliferation in response to high-dose CD40L was altered and immunoglobulin production was elevated in in vitro-activated B cells obtained from patients who received glatiramer acetate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glatiramer acetate therapy remodels the composition of the B-cell compartment and influences cytokine secretion and immunoglobulin production. These data suggest that glatiramer acetate therapy affects several aspects of dysregulated B-cell function in MS that may contribute to the therapeutic mechanisms of glatiramer acetate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Alyssa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Dina E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Remington
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Elliot M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Frohman
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Laurie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas3Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Monson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate