Naslov
Circulating early plasma cells with high TLR9 and low BAFF-receptor expression in a SLE patient before and after treatment

Autori
Cepika, Alma-Martina ; Morović-Vergles, Jadranka ; malenica, Branko ; Gagro, Alenka

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
The 7th International Congress on Autoimmunity

Mjesto i datum
Ljubljana, Slovenija, 05.05.2010. - 09.05.2010

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
TLR9; BAFF-receptor; systemic lupus erythematosus

Sažetak
Elevated intrathecal levels of antibodies and cytokines such as B cell-activating factor (BAFF) in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) indicate local production. Antibody-secreting cells (ASC) are not inherent to the central nervous system (CNS) but presumably get there via peripheral blood, where can be detected. We determined B cell subsets, BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) and TLR9 expression via flow cytometry in peripheral blood of a patient with acute-onset SLE (SLEDAI score=26) accompanied with severe proteinuria and grand-mal seizures. Samples were taken before the treatment and afterwards, in remission, and from 5 healthy controls. We found that 95% of patient's B cells were CD27+, as opposed to only 34±9.7% (mean±SD) in controls. Most of the patient's CD27+ cells had IgM memory phenotype. Moreover, 29% of patient's B cells had CD27highBAFF-RlowCD19low phenotype resembling early plasma cells, present in very low frequency (<2%) in healthy controls. CD27high cells had higher TLR9 expression level than other B cell subsets. Patient's BAFF serum levels were twice the leves in controls. After therapy, patient's SLEDAI score dropped to 6, proteinuria decreased and CNS symptoms subsided. BAFF-R expression, BAFF serum levels and IgM memory B cell frequency also decreased to the levels observed in controls ; however, 90% of the B cells were still CD27+, and 15% was CD27high. Presence of BAFF-independent B cells with ASC-like phenotype and high TLR9 levels (and therefore lowered activation treshold) from which some perhaps are autoreactive, can be detrimental upon encounter with TLR9-ligands, as this can induce antibody secretion and further enhance tissue destruction.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA