title: Blood B Cell and Regulatory Subset Content in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  B cell targeted therapies have been effective in slowing multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression suggesting a direct causal link for this lymphoid subset. A small subset of B cells with regulative properties (Bregs) exists in peripheral blood, and induction of Bregs ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the murine model for MS. Therefore the frequency of B cell subsets and regulatory B cells in particular in peripheral blood of MS patients is of interest.
  
  
  METHODS
  The phenotype and frequency of B cell subsets in peripheral blood from 32 MS patients and 34 healthy controls (HC) were examined using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that there is an increase in CD19+cell number in MS 1347 ± 159 cells/μL, (average ± SEM) compared to HC, 935 ± 129 cells/μL and no apparent deficiency in B-cells with a regulatory phenotype. In addition, we observed a loss of correlation between CD19+B cells and total lymphocyte count in MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest altered blood B-cell homeostasis in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Jakob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Jiusheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Emory MS Center, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lava
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Emory MS Center, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA ; Department of Neurology (GEC), Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tyor
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galipeau
keywords: B cells; Flow cytometry; IL-10; Multiple sclerosis; Regulatory B cells; Rituximab