Identification of B cell subsets based on antigen receptor sequences using deep learning
B cell receptors (BCRs) denote antigen specificity, while corresponding cell subsets indicate B cell functionality. Here, we proposed BCR-SORT, a deep learning model that predicts cell subsets from their corresponding BCR sequences. Subsequently, we applied BCR-SORT on BCR repertoire datasets obtained from autoimmune disease patients who have undergone rituximab (RTX) treatment. Peripheral blood samples were obtained at three time points from one patient with pemphigus vulgaris (at diagnosis, one month after the second dose of RTX, and at relapse) and from one patient with myasthenia gravis (before RTX, 1 week after the first dose of RTX, and three months after RTX). Using BCR-SORT, we identified alterations in B cell subpopulations and observed that antibody-secreting cells exhibited resistance to RTX treatment in both MG and PV patients.