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Kumar G, Axtell RC. Dual Role of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2336. [PMID: 36768658 PMCID: PMC9916779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
B cells have emerged as an important immune cell type that can be targeted for therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS). Depleting B cells with anti-CD20 antibodies is effective in treating MS. Yet, atacicept treatment, which blocks B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), two cytokines important for B cell development and function, paradoxically increases disease activity in MS patients. The reason behind the failure of atacicept is not well understood. The stark differences in clinical outcomes with these therapies demonstrate that B cells have both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions in MS. In this review, we summarize the importance of B cells in MS and discuss the different B cell subsets that perform inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions and how therapies modulate B cell functions in MS patients. Additionally, we discuss the potential anti-inflammatory functions of BAFF and APRIL on MS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert C. Axtell
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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Baert L, Ahmed MC, Manfroi B, Huard B. The number 13 of the family: a proliferation inducing ligand. Curr Opin Immunol 2021; 71:132-137. [PMID: 34411773 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2021.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The TNF superfamily member a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL, TNFSF13) plays a late role in humoral immunity at the level of antibody-producing plasmocytes. The recent characterization of the first immunodeficient patient with an inactivating mutation in the APRIL gene provided the last piece of functional data lacking in the human system. Based on this function, APRIL has been considered as a valuable target to dampen unwanted antibody production. After reviewing the late data acquired on the physiological function of APRIL in humoral immunity, we will here review the state of the art regarding APRIL targeting in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Baert
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble-Alpes/INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR5309, La Tronche, France
| | - Mashal Claude Ahmed
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble-Alpes/INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR5309, La Tronche, France
| | - Benoit Manfroi
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble-Alpes/INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR5309, La Tronche, France
| | - Bertrand Huard
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble-Alpes/INSERM U1209/CNRS UMR5309, La Tronche, France.
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Kumar G, Maria Z, Kohli U, Agasing A, Quinn JL, Ko RM, Zamvil SS, Axtell RC. CNS Autoimmune Responses in BCMA-Deficient Mice Provide Insight for the Failure of Atacicept in MS. NEUROLOGY-NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2021; 8:8/3/e973. [PMID: 33649164 PMCID: PMC7954465 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000000973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE B cells have emerged as a therapeutic target for MS. Anti-CD20 antibodies, which deplete B cells, are effective therapies for MS. However, atacicept (TACI-Fc), which blocks BAFF and APRIL and reduces B cells, unexpectedly exacerbates MS. We tested the hypothesis that B cell maturation antigen (BCMA), a receptor for BAFF and APRIL, plays a role in the paradoxical effects of anti-CD20 antibody and TACI-Fc using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). METHODS EAE was induced in wild-type (BCMA+/+) and BCMA-deficient (BCMA-/-) mice with an immunization of rodent myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35-55 peptide. Treatment with anti-CD20 antibody, TACI-Fc, and isotype controls was administered by intraperitoneal injections. CNS infiltration was evaluated by histology; immune cell phenotypes were evaluated by flow cytometry; MOG-specific antibodies were determined by ELISA. Mixed bone marrow chimeras and cell culture assays were used to identify the specific subsets of immune cells affected by BCMA deficiency. RESULTS First, we found that BCMA-/- mice had more severe EAE compared with BCMA+/+ mice and the increased disease was associated with elevated anti-MOG B-cell responses. Second, we found that anti-CD20 therapy attenuated EAE in BCMA-/- mice but not in BCMA+/+ mice. Third, TACI-Fc attenuated EAE in BCMA+/+ mice but not in BCMA-/- mice. Mixed bone marrow chimeric and cell culture experiments demonstrated that BCMA deficiency elevates inflammatory B-cell responses but inhibits inflammatory responses in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS BCMA has multifaceted roles during inflammation that affects therapeutic efficacies of anti-CD20 and TACI-Fc in EAE. Our results from BCMA-deficient mice provide insights into the failure of atacicept in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav Kumar
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Zahra Maria
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Uday Kohli
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Agnieshka Agasing
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - James L Quinn
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Rose M Ko
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Scott S Zamvil
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco
| | - Robert C Axtell
- From the ACI (G.K., Z.M., U.K., A.A., J.L.Q., R.M.K., R.C.A.), Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation; and Department of Neurology and Program in Immunology, (S.S.Z.), University of California San Francisco.
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Stohl W, Yu N, Chalmers S, Putterman C, Jacob CO. Development of Murine Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Absence of BAFF. Arthritis Rheumatol 2019; 72:292-302. [PMID: 31493335 DOI: 10.1002/art.41097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can develop in the absence of BAFF in an SLE-prone host. METHODS Starting with C57BL/6 mice that express a human BCL2 transgene (Tg) in their B cells (thereby rendering B cell survival largely independent of BAFF-triggered signals), we introgressed this Tg into NZM 2328 mice genetically deficient in BAFF (NZM.Baff-/- ) to generate NZM.Baff-/- .Bcl2Tg mice. Expression of human Bcl-2 and lymphocyte profiles were assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and serologic profiles were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunofluorescence and histologic analyses were performed to assess renal immunopathologic features in the mice, and clinical disease was assessed according to the outcomes of severe proteinuria and death. RESULTS In comparison to their non-Tg NZM.Baff-/- littermates (n ≥ 7), NZM.Baff-/- .Bcl2Tg mice (n ≥ 8) overexpressed Bcl-2 in their B cells and developed significantly increased percentages and numbers of B cells and plasma cells, serum levels of IgG autoantibodies, glomerular deposition of IgG and C3, and severity of glomerular and tubulointerstitial inflammation, culminating in severe proteinuria and death (all P < 0.05 versus NZM.Baff-/- littermates). The time course for development of SLE-like features in NZM.Baff-/- .Bcl2Tg mice was more rapid than has been previously observed in NZM 2328 wild-type mice (median age at death 4.5 months versus 7.5 months). NZM.Baff-/- .Bcl2Tg mice remained responsive to BAFF, since reintroduction of the Baff gene into these mice further accelerated the course of disease (median age at death 3 months). CONCLUSION The role of BAFF in the development of SLE-like disease may be dispensable as long as B cell survival is preserved via a BAFF-independent pathway. This may help explain the limited and variable clinical success with BAFF antagonists in human SLE. Thus, NZM.Baff-/- .Bcl2Tg mice may serve as a powerful murine model for the study of BAFF-independent SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Stohl
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles
| | - Ning Yu
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles
| | | | | | - Chaim O Jacob
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles
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