title: Decreased Dicer expression is linked to increased expression of co-stimulatory molecule CD80 on B cells in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. B cells have been strongly implicated in disease pathogenesis based on clinical trials with B-cell ablation. There is a growing body of evidence linking microRNAs with regulation of the immune system. Dicer, a key enzyme involved in microRNA biogenesis, is necessary for normal B-cell function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine whether Dicer expression is impaired in B cells and is linked to increased expression co-stimulatory molecules in patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  B cells were separated from blood samples of MS patients and healthy subjects. Expression of Dicer and co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 was tested. The effect of Dicer modulation on CD80 and CD86 expression in B cells was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dicer expression was decreased in B cells but not in monocytes of patients with MS compared with healthy subjects. CD80 and CD86 expression was increased on B cells of MS patients compared with healthy subjects. Inhibition of Dicer expression in B cells by small interfering RNA led to increased expression of CD80.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dicer expression is decreased and is mechanistically linked to increased expression of co-stimulatory molecule CD80 in B cells of patients with MS. This may contribute to activation of immune responses in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Latt Latt
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA konstantin.balashov@rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Konstantin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Balashov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000276:immunology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; C497964:CD86 protein, human; C408087:DICER1 protein, human; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
keywords: B cells; CD80; Dicer; Multiple sclerosis