title: B Cells and Autoantibodies in Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: While over the past decades T cells have been considered key players in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), it has only recently become evident that B cells have a major contributing role. Our understanding of the role of B cells has evolved substantially following the clinical success of B cell-targeting therapies and increasing experimental evidence for significant B cell involvement. Rather than mere antibody-producing cells, it is becoming clear that they are team players with the capacity to prime and regulate T cells, and function both as pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. However, despite tremendous efforts, the target antigen(s) of B cells in MS have yet to be identified. The first part of this review summarizes the clinical evidence and results from animal studies pointing to the relevance of B cells in the pathogenesis of MS. The second part gives an overview of the currently known potential autoantigen targets. The third part recapitulates and critically appraises the currently available B cell-directed therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4 & Clinical Neuroimmunology, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. anne-katrin.proebstel@usb.ch.|Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. anne-katrin.proebstel@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Anne-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pröbstel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4 & Clinical Neuroimmunology, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. nicholas.sanderson@unibas.ch.|Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. nicholas.sanderson@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Nicholas S R
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4 & Clinical Neuroimmunology, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. tobias.derfuss@usb.ch.|Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. tobias.derfuss@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Derfuss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: B cells; autoantibodies; autoantigen; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica; pathogenesis; therapy