title: CD20 therapies in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis - Targeting T or B cells?
abstract: MS is widely considered to be a T cell-mediated disease although T cell immunotherapy has consistently failed, demonstrating distinct differences with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS in which T cell therapies are effective. Accumulating evidence has highlighted that B cells also play key role in MS pathogenesis. The high frequency of oligoclonal antibodies in the CSF, the localization of immunoglobulin in brain lesions and pathogenicity of antibodies originally pointed to the pathogenic role of B cells as autoantibody producing plasma cells. However, emerging evidence reveal that B cells also act as antigen presenting cells, T cell activators and cytokine producers suggesting that the strong efficacy of anti-CD20 antibody therapy observed in people with MS may reduce disease progression by several different mechanisms. Here we review the evidence and mechanisms by which B cells contribute to disease in MS compared to findings in the EAE model.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, VU Medical Centre, VU University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marie Colombe
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Agahozo
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, VU Medical Centre, VU University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peferoen
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunolgy Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, VU Medical Centre, VU University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Neuroimmunolgy Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: s.amor@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Animal models; B cells; CD20; Epstein-Barr virus; Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; Multiple sclerosis; Therapeutics