title: Phenotypic analysis of peripheral B cell populations during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains an unresolved threat resulting in great annual loss of life. The role of B cells during the protective immunity to Mtb is still unclear. B cells have been described as effector cells in addition to their role as antibody producing cells during disease. Here we aim to identify and characterize the frequency of peripheral B-cell subpopulations during active Tuberculosis and over treatment response. Analysis were done for both class switched (CS) and non-class switched (NCS) phenotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited participants with active untreated pulmonary Tuberculosis, other lung diseases and healthy community controls. All groups were followed up for one week from recruitment and the TB cases till the end of treatment (month 6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral blood samples were collected, stained with monoclonal antibodies to CD19(+) cells, Immunoglobulin (Ig) M, plasma cells (CD 138(+)), marker of memory (CD27(+)), immune activation (CD23(+)) and acquired on a flow cytometer. Circulating Marginal zone B cells (CD19(+)IgM(+)CD23(-)CD27(+)) and memory phenotypes are able to distinguish between TB diagnosis and end of treatment. The frequency of mature B cells from TB cases are lower than that of other-lung diseases at diagnosis. A subpopulation of activated memory B cells (CD19(+)IgM(+)CD23(+)CD27(+)) cells are present at the end of TB treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identified distinctive B cell subpopulations present during active TB disease and other lung disease conditions. These cell populations warrants further examination in larger studies as it may be informative as cell markers or as effectors/regulators in TB disease or TB treatment response.
authors.affiliation: SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000 South Africa.
authors.forename: Willem J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: du Plessis
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keyser
authors.affiliation: SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000 South Africa.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walzl
authors.affiliation: SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000 South Africa.
authors.forename: André G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Loxton
keywords: B cells; Biomarker; Immune activation; Immuno-phenotyping; Marginal zone; Plasma cells