Analysis of the Distribution of Regulatory B Cells in Blood of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive immuno-inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and represents the second most common cause of disability in young people. The pathophysiologic mechanisms involved are complex and effective therapeutic strategies have yet to be defined. Moreover it's today evident that treatment approaches have to be performed in a personalized point of view. In this context, biomarkers evaluating the course of the disease but also predicting efficacy of therapy are particularly needed in MS.

Recent data underlines the direct role of B-cells in MS. Such comprehensive data have led to new therapeutic strategies using biotherapies in order to deplete, or modulate, the functions of peripheral B cells. Such approaches have led to contradictory results of efficacy. Today, it remains unclear whether B-cells exert diminished regulatory effects or instead potentiate the pathogenic response of T-cells. Such dual properties may depend on the release of inhibitory (e.g. interleukin-10) or pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. interleukin-6) and/or direct interactions with other cells, especially T cells.

The investigators aim to longitudinally evaluate quantitative and functional changes in peripheral blood B-cell subsets (1) at the initiation phases of MS, i.e. radiological isolated syndrome (RIS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) (2) during progression of MS and (3) between the two clinical forms of MS in naïve treatment patient: Relapsing-Remittent MS (RRMS) and Primary Progressive MS (PPMS). B-cell subsets are defined by a combination of membrane markers and enumerated at different time points (inclusion (before treatment) and at 3, 6, 12, 24 months of treatment initiation) in a whole blood flow cytometric (FCM) analysis. The absolute counts and relative proportions of transitional, naïve, memory, and marginal zone-like B-cell subsets are being followed up prospectively in patients with a radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS, n= 20), with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS, n= 20), in MS patients with relapsing remitting form (RRMS, n = 20) and in MS patients with primary progressive evolution of the disease (PPMS, n = 20). Control samples are being collected from patients affected by other inflammatory diseases with neurological symptoms (Devic syndrome, Neurobehcet, neurosarcoidosis n = 20) or without neurological symptoms (systemic sclerosis, SSc, n= 20) and from blood donors (n = 40). In order to evaluate functional properties of B cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from each group of patients are activated with CD40 ligand and CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs), and IL-10-producing B-cells are enumerated by FCM after a brief incubation with phorbol myristate acetate, ionomycin, and brefeldin A as a protein transport inhibitor agent. In selected CIS and MS patients whose changes in B-cell subpopulations associated with onset or progression of the disease are representative, the B-cell subpopulations will be purified and activated with CD40 ligand and CpG ODNs to be co cultured with anti-CD3-activated autologous T-cells to evaluate inhibitory or potentiating effects on T-cell production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IFN-gamma, IL-17).

All phenotypic analyses and cell cultures are performed using previously validated protocols. Our ultimate goal is to correlate quantitative and functional changes of subsets composing the systemic B-cell population with the grading and evolution of MS. Such a strategy could lead to identify which MS patients should receive treatment targeting B cells and when. Further, it may offer a rationale for alternative forms of cell therapy that could introduce for example autologous purified B regulator cells after depletive strategies.