Accumulation of clonally related B lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients

Determinants and Biomarkers of Progression Independent of Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis

Clinical, pathological, and imaging evidence in multiple sclerosis (MS) suggests that a smoldering inflammatory activity is present from the earliest stages of the disease and underlies the progression of disability, which proceeds relentlessly and independently of clinical and radiological relapses (PIRA). The complex system of pathological events driving "chronic" worsening is likely linked with the early accumulation of compartmentalized inflammation within the central nervous system as well as insufficient repair phenomena and mitochondrial failure. These mechanisms are partially lesion-independent and differ from those causing clinical relapses and the formation of new focal demyelinating lesions; they lead to neuroaxonal dysfunction and death, myelin loss, glia alterations, and finally, a neuronal network dysfunction outweighing central nervous system (CNS) compensatory mechanisms. This review aims to provide an overview of the state of the art of neuropathological, immunological, and imaging knowledge about the mechanisms underlying the smoldering disease activity, focusing on possible early biomarkers and their translation into clinical practice. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:1-20.

Deciphering Autoimmune Diseases: Unveiling the Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Prognostic Potential of Immune Repertoire Sequencing

Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are immune system disorders where the body exhibits an immune response to its own antigens, causing damage to its own tissues and organs. The pathogenesis of AIDs is incompletely understood. However, recent advances in immune repertoire sequencing (IR-seq) technology have opened-up a new avenue to study the IR. These studies have revealed the prevalence in IR alterations, potentially inducing AIDs by disrupting immune tolerance and thereby contributing to our comprehension of AIDs. IR-seq harbors significant potential for the clinical diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis of AIDs. This article reviews the application and progress of IR-seq in diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes, to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDs and offer valuable references for the diagnosis and treatment of AIDs.

A Review of Compartmentalised Inflammation and Tertiary Lymphoid Structures in the Pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The most common form of MS is a relapsing–remitting disease characterised by acute episodes of demyelination associated with the breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In the relapsing–remitting phase there is often relative recovery (remission) from relapses characterised clinically by complete or partial resolution of neurological symptoms. In the later and progressive stages of the disease process, accrual of neurological disability occurs in a pathological process independent of acute episodes of demyelination and is accompanied by a trapped or compartmentalised inflammatory response, most notable in the connective tissue spaces of the vasculature and leptomeninges occurring behind an intact BBB. This review focuses on compartmentalised inflammation in MS and in particular, what we know about meningeal tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS; also called B cell follicles) which are organised clusters of immune cells, associated with more severe and progressive forms of MS. Meningeal inflammation and TLS could represent an important fluid or imaging marker of disease activity, whose therapeutic abrogation might be necessary to stop the most severe outcomes of disease.

Clonally expanded B cells in multiple sclerosis bind EBV EBNA1 and GlialCAM

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogenous autoimmune disease in which autoreactive lymphocytes attack the myelin sheath of the central nervous system. B lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with MS contribute to inflammation and secrete oligoclonal immunoglobulins^1,2. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been epidemiologically linked to MS, but its pathological role remains unclear³. Here we demonstrate high-affinity molecular mimicry between the EBV transcription factor EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and the central nervous system protein glial cell adhesion molecule (GlialCAM) and provide structural and in vivo functional evidence for its relevance. A cross-reactive CSF-derived antibody was initially identified by single-cell sequencing of the paired-chain B cell repertoire of MS blood and CSF, followed by protein microarray-based testing of recombinantly expressed CSF-derived antibodies against MS-associated viruses. Sequence analysis, affinity measurements and the crystal structure of the EBNA1-peptide epitope in complex with the autoreactive Fab fragment enabled tracking of the development of the naive EBNA1-restricted antibody to a mature EBNA1-GlialCAM cross-reactive antibody. Molecular mimicry is facilitated by a post-translational modification of GlialCAM. EBNA1 immunization exacerbates disease in a mouse model of MS, and anti-EBNA1 and anti-GlialCAM antibodies are prevalent in patients with MS. Our results provide a mechanistic link for the association between MS and EBV and could guide the development of new MS therapies.

Epstein Barr Virus Exploits Genetic Susceptibility to Increase Multiple Sclerosis Risk

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) for which both genetic and environmental risk factors have been identified. The strongest synergy among them exists between the MHC class II haplotype and infection with the Epstein Barr virus (EBV), especially symptomatic primary EBV infection (infectious mononucleosis) and elevated EBV-specific antibodies. In this review, we will summarize the epidemiological evidence that EBV infection is a prerequisite for MS development, describe altered EBV specific immune responses in MS patients, and speculate about possible pathogenic mechanisms for the synergy between EBV infection and the MS-associated MHC class II haplotype. We will also discuss how at least one of these mechanisms might explain the recent success of B cell-depleting therapies for MS. While a better mechanistic understanding of the role of EBV infection and its immune control during MS pathogenesis is required and calls for the development of innovative experimental systems to test the proposed mechanisms, therapies targeting EBV-infected B cells are already starting to be explored in MS patients.

Next Generation Sequencing of Cerebrospinal Fluid B Cell Repertoires in Multiple Sclerosis and Other Neuro-Inflammatory Diseases-A Comprehensive Review

During the last few decades, the role of B cells has been well established and redefined in neuro-inflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis and autoantibody-associated diseases. In particular, B cell maturation and trafficking across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has recently been deciphered with the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches, which allow the assessment of representative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood B cell repertoires. In this review, we perform literature research focusing on NGS studies that allow further insights into B cell pathophysiology during neuro-inflammation. Besides the analysis of CSF B cells, the paralleled assessment of peripheral blood B cell repertoire provides deep insights into not only the CSF compartment, but also in B cell trafficking patterns across the BBB. In multiple sclerosis, CSF-specific B cell maturation, in combination with a bidirectional exchange of B cells across the BBB, is consistently detectable. These data suggest that B cells most likely encounter antigen(s) within the CSF and migrate across the BBB, with further maturation also taking place in the periphery. Autoantibody-mediated diseases, such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and LGI1 / NMDAR encephalitis, also show features of a CSF-specific B cell maturation and clonal connectivity with peripheral blood. In conclusion, these data suggest an intense exchange of B cells across the BBB, possibly feeding autoimmune circuits. Further developments in sequencing technologies will help to dissect the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms of B cells during neuro-inflammation.

B-cell depletion therapy for multiple sclerosis

Since the initial observation of increased immunoglobulin concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the 1940s, B cells have been considered to participate in the pathology of MS through the production of autoantibodies reactive against central nervous system antigens. However, it is now recognized that B cells contribute to MS relapses via antibody-independent activities, including the presentation of antigens to T cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the recent identification of B cell-rich follicle-like structures in the meninges of progressive MS patients suggests that the pathogenic roles of B cells also exist at the progressive phase of this disease. Recently, large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of B-cell depletion therapy using anti-CD20 antibodies in relapsing as well as primary progressive MS. B-cell depletion therapy has become an essential treatment option for MS based on its unique benefit to risk balance in relapsing MS, and because it is the only drug that has been shown to be effective in primary progressive MS to date.

The CD8 T Cell-Epstein-Barr Virus-B Cell Trialogue: A Central Issue in Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis

The cause and the pathogenic mechanisms leading to multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), are still under scrutiny. During the last decade, awareness has increased that multiple genetic and environmental factors act in concert to modulate MS risk. Likewise, the landscape of cells of the adaptive immune system that are believed to play a role in MS immunopathogenesis has expanded by including not only CD4 T helper cells but also cytotoxic CD8 T cells and B cells. Once the key cellular players are identified, the main challenge is to define precisely how they act and interact to induce neuroinflammation and the neurodegenerative cascade in MS. CD8 T cells have been implicated in MS pathogenesis since the 80's when it was shown that CD8 T cells predominate in MS brain lesions. Interest in the role of CD8 T cells in MS was revived in 2000 and the years thereafter by studies showing that CNS-recruited CD8 T cells are clonally expanded and have a memory effector phenotype indicating in situ antigen-driven reactivation. The association of certain MHC class I alleles with MS genetic risk implicates CD8 T cells in disease pathogenesis. Moreover, experimental studies have highlighted the detrimental effects of CD8 T cell activation on neural cells. While the antigens responsible for T cell recruitment and activation in the CNS remain elusive, the high efficacy of B-cell depleting drugs in MS and a growing number of studies implicate B cells and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a B-lymphotropic herpesvirus that is strongly associated with MS, in the activation of pathogenic T cells. This article reviews the results of human studies that have contributed to elucidate the role of CD8 T cells in MS immunopathogenesis, and discusses them in light of current understanding of autoreactivity, B-cell and EBV involvement in MS, and mechanism of action of different MS treatments. Based on the available evidences, an immunopathological model of MS is proposed that entails a persistent EBV infection of CNS-infiltrating B cells as the target of a dysregulated cytotoxic CD8 T cell response causing CNS tissue damage.

B cells in multiple sclerosis - from targeted depletion to immune reconstitution therapies

Increasing evidence indicates the involvement of B cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), but their precise roles are unclear. In this Review, we provide an overview of the development and physiological functions of B cells and the main mechanisms through which B cells are thought to contribute to CNS autoimmunity. In MS, abnormalities of B cell function include pro-inflammatory cytokine production, defective B cell regulatory function and the formation of tertiary lymphoid-like structures in the CNS, which are the likely source of abnormal immunoglobulin production detectable in the cerebrospinal fluid. We also consider the hypothesis that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in the B cell overactivation that leads to inflammatory injury to the CNS in MS. We also review the immunological effects - with a focus on the effects on B cell subsets - of several successful therapeutic approaches in MS, including agents that selectively deplete B cells (rituximab, ocrelizumab and ofatumumab), agents that less specifically deplete lymphocytes (alemtuzumab and cladribine) and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in which the immune system is unselectively ablated and reconstituted. We consider the insights that these effects on B cell populations provide and their potential to further our understanding and targeting of B cells in MS.

Failed, Interrupted, or Inconclusive Trials on Immunomodulatory Treatment Strategies in Multiple Sclerosis: Update 2015-2020

In the past decades, multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment has experienced vast changes resulting from major advances in disease-modifying therapies (DMT). Looking at the overall number of studies, investigations with therapeutic advantages and encouraging results are exceeded by studies of promising compounds that failed due to either negative or inconclusive results or have been interrupted for other reasons. Importantly, these failed clinical trials are informative experiments that can help us to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying MS. In several trials, concepts taken from experimental models were not translatable to humans, although they did not lack a well-considered pathophysiological rationale. The lessons learned from these discrepancies may benefit future studies and reduce the risks for patients. This review summarizes trials on MS since 2015 that have either failed or have been interrupted for various reasons. We identify potential causes of failure or inconclusiveness, looking at the path from basic animal experiments to clinical trials, and discuss the implications for our current view on MS pathogenesis, clinical practice, and future study designs. We focus on anti-inflammatory treatment strategies, without including studies on already approved and effective DMT. Clinical trials addressing neuroprotective and alternative treatment strategies are presented in a separate article.

Immune repertoire: Revealing the "real-time" adaptive immune response in autoimmune diseases

The diversity of the immune repertoire (IR) enables the human immune system to distinguish multifarious antigens (Ags) that humans may encounter throughout life. At the same time, bias or abnormalities in the IR also pay a contribution to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Rapid advancements in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology have ushered in a new era of immune studies, revealing novel molecules and pathways that might result in autoimmunity. In the field of IR, HTS can monitor the immune response status and identify disease-specific immune repertoires. In this review, we summarize updated progress on the mechanisms of the IR and current related studies on four autoimmune diseases, particularly focusing on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These autoimmune diseases can exhibit slightly or significantly skewed IRs and provide novel insights that inform our comprehending of disease pathogenesis and provide potential targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Cytologic and Molecular Diagnostics for Vitreoretinal Lymphoma: Current Approaches and Emerging Single-Cell Analyses

Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare ocular malignancy that manifests as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent mistreatment and to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with VRL. The disease can be diagnosed using various methods, including cytology, immunohistochemistry, cytokine analysis, flow cytometry, and molecular analysis of bulk vitreous aspirates. Despite these options, VRL diagnosis remains challenging, as samples are often confounded by low cellularity, the presence of debris and non-target immunoreactive cells, and poor cytological preservation. As such, VRL diagnostic accuracy is limited by both false-positive and false-negative outcomes. Missed or inappropriate diagnosis may cause delays in treatment, which can have life-threatening consequences for patients with VRL. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and the diagnostic modalities used for VRL diagnosis. We also highlight several emerging molecular techniques, including high-resolution single cell-based analyses, which may enable more comprehensive and precise VRL diagnoses.

B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis and Virus-Induced Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation can be defined as an inflammatory response within the central nervous system (CNS) mediated by a complex crosstalk between CNS-resident and infiltrating immune cells from the periphery. Triggers for neuroinflammation not only include pathogens, trauma and toxic metabolites, but also autoimmune diseases such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and multiple sclerosis (MS) where the inflammatory response is recognized as a disease-escalating factor. B cells are not considered as the first responders of neuroinflammation, yet they have recently gained focus as a key component involved in the disease pathogenesis of several neuroinflammatory disorders like MS. Traditionally, the prime focus of the role of B cells in any disease, including neuroinflammatory diseases, was their ability to produce antibodies. While that may indeed be an important contribution of B cells in mediating disease pathogenesis, several lines of recent evidence indicate that B cells are multifunctional players during an inflammatory response, including their ability to present antigens and produce an array of cytokines. Moreover, interaction between B cells and other cellular components of the immune system or nervous system can either promote or dampen neuroinflammation depending on the disease. Given that the interest in B cells in neuroinflammation is relatively new, the precise roles that they play in the pathophysiology and progression of different neuroinflammatory disorders have not yet been well-elucidated. Furthermore, the possibility that they might change their function during the course of neuroinflammation adds another level of complexity and the puzzle remains incomplete. Indeed, advancing our knowledge on the role of B cells in neuroinflammation would also allow us to tackle these disorders better. Here, we review the available literature to explore the relationship between autoimmune and infectious neuroinflammation with a focus on the involvement of B cells in MS and viral infections of the CNS.

Ofatumumab – A Potential Subcutaneous B-cell Therapy for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

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Identification of novel non-myelin biomarkers in multiple sclerosis using an improved phage-display approach

Although the etiology of multiple sclerosis is not yet understood, it is accepted that its pathogenesis involves both autoimmune and neurodegenerative processes, in which the role of autoreactive T-cells has been elucidated. Instead, the contribution of humoral response is still unclear, even if the presence of intrathecal antibodies and B-cells follicle-like structures in meninges of patients has been demonstrated. Several myelin and non-myelin antigens have been identified, but none has been validated as humoral biomarker. In particular autoantibodies against myelin proteins have been found also in healthy individuals, whereas non-myelin antigens have been implicated in neurodegenerative phase of the disease.

To provide further putative autoantigens of multiple sclerosis, we investigated the antigen specificity of immunoglobulins present both in sera and in cerebrospinal fluid of patients using phage display technology in a new improved format. A human brain cDNA phage display library was constructed and enriched for open-read-frame fragments. This library was selected against pooled and purified immunoglobulins from cerebrospinal fluid and sera of multiple sclerosis patients. The antigen library was also screened against an antibody scFv library obtained from RNA of B cells purified from the cerebrospinal fluid of two relapsing remitting patients. From all biopanning a complex of 14 antigens were identified; in particular, one of these antigens, corresponding to DDX24 protein, was present in all selections. The ability of more frequently isolated antigens to discriminate between sera from patients with multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases was investigated. The more promising novel candidate autoantigens were DDX24 and TCERG1. Both are implicated in RNA modification and regulation which can be altered in neurodegenerative processes. Therefore, we propose that they could be a marker of a particular disease activity state.

Therapeutic Apheresis in Acute Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: Current Evidence and Unmet Needs-A Systematic Review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most abundant inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Despite recent advances in its long-term immunomodulatory treatment, MS patients still suffer from relapses, significantly contributing to disability accrual. In recent years, apheresis procedures such as therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and immunoadsorption (IA) have been recognized as two options for treating MS relapses, that do not respond to standard treatment with corticosteroids. TPE is already incorporated in most international guidelines, although evidence for its use resulted mostly from either case series or small unblinded and/or non-randomized trials. Data on IA are still sparse, but several studies indicate comparable efficacy between both apheresis procedures. This article gives an overview of the published evidence on TPE and IA in the treatment of acute relapses in MS. Further, we outline current evidence regarding individual outcome predictors, describe technical details of apheresis procedures, and discuss apheresis treatment in children and during pregnancy.

Multiple sclerosis pathogenesis: missing pieces of an old puzzle

Traditionally, multiple sclerosis (MS) was considered to be a CD4 T cell-mediated CNS autoimmunity, compatible with experimental autoimmune encephalitis model, which can be characterized by focal lesions in the white matter. However, studies of recent decades revealed several missing pieces of MS puzzle and showed that MS pathogenesis is more complex than the traditional view and may include the following: a primary degenerative process (e.g. oligodendroglial pathology), generalized abnormality of normal-appearing brain tissue, pronounced gray matter pathology, involvement of innate immunity, and CD8 T cells and B cells. Here, we review these findings and discuss their implications in MS pathogenesis.

Central Nervous System Inflammatory Aggregates in the Theiler's Virus Model of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Persistent central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, as seen in chronic infections or inflammatory demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), results in the accumulation of various B cell subsets in the CNS, including naïve, activated, memory B cells (Bmem), and antibody secreting cells (ASC). However, factors driving heterogeneous B cell subset accumulation and antibody (Ab) production in the CNS compartment, including the contribution of ectopic lymphoid follicles (ELF), during chronic CNS inflammation remain unclear and is a major gap in our understanding of neuroinflammation. We sought to address this gap using the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease (TMEV-IDD) model of progressive MS. In this model, injection of the virus into susceptible mouse strains results in a persistent infection associated with demyelination and progressive disability. During chronic infection, the predominant B cell phenotypes accumulating in the CNS were isotype-switched B cells, including Bmem and ASC with naïve/early activated and transitional B cells present at low frequencies. B cell accumulation in the CNS during chronic TMEV-IDD coincided with intrathecal Ab synthesis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Mature and isotype-switched B cells predominately localized to the meninges and perivascular space, with IgG isotype-switched B cells frequently accumulating in the parenchymal space. Both mature and isotype-switched B cells and T cells occupied meningeal and perivascular spaces, with minimal evidence for spatial organization typical of ELF mimicking secondary lymphoid organs (SLO). Moreover, immunohistological analysis of immune cell aggregates revealed a lack of SLO-like ELF features, such as cell proliferation, cell death, and germinal center B cell markers. Nonetheless, flow cytometric assessment of B cells within the CNS showed enhanced expression of activation markers, including moderate upregulation of GL7 and expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80. B cell-related chemokines and trophic factors, including APRIL, BAFF, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL19, and CXCL13, were elevated in the CNS. These results indicate that localization of heterogeneous B cell populations, including activated and isotype-switched B cell phenotypes, to the CNS and intrathecal Ab (ItAb) synthesis can occur independently of SLO-like follicles during chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease.

Therapies for multiple sclerosis targeting B cells

Increasing evidence suggests that B cells contribute both to the regulation of normal autoimmunity and to the pathogenesis of immune mediated diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). B cells in MS are skewed toward a pro-inflammatory profile, and contribute to MS pathogenesis by antibody production, antigen presentation, T cells stimulation and activation, driving autoproliferation of brain-homing autoreactive CD4+ T cells, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and formation of ectopic meningeal germinal centers that drive cortical pathology and contribute to neurological disability. The recent interest in the key role of B cells in MS has been evoked by the profound anti-inflammatory effects of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the B cell surface marker CD20, observed in relapsing-remitting MS. This has been reaffirmed by clinical trials with less immunogenic and more potent B cell-depleting mAbs targeting CD20 – ocrelizumab, ofatumumab and ublituximab. Ocrelizumab is also the first disease-modifying drug that has shown efficacy in primary-progressive MS, and is currently approved for both indications. Another promising approach is the inhibition of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a key enzyme that mediates B cell activation and survival, by agents such as evobrutinib. On the other hand, targeting B cell cytokines with the fusion protein atacicept increased MS activity, highlighting the complex and not fully understood role of B cells and humoral immunity in MS. Finally, all other approved therapies for MS, some of which have been designed to target T cells, have some effects on the frequency, phenotype, or homing of B cells, which may contribute to their therapeutic activity.

B Cell-based Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

The traditional view of multiple sclerosis (MS) as a T cell mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) has evolved into a concept of an immune-mediated disease where complex bi-directional interactions between T cells, B cells and myeloid cells underlie and shape CNS-directed autoimmunity. B cells are now recognized as major contributors to the pathogenesis of MS, largely due to increased understanding of their biology and the profound anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by B cell depletion in MS. In this chapter we discuss the fundamental roles B cells play in the pathogenesis of MS and review current and future therapeutic strategies targeting B cells in MS, including B cell depletion with various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the B cell surface markers CD20 and CD19, anti-B cell cytokine therapies, blocking Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) in B cells, and various immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects exerted on B cells by virtually all other approved therapies for MS.

Therapies for multiple sclerosis targeting B cells

Increasing evidence suggests that B cells contribute both to the regulation of normal autoimmunity and to the pathogenesis of immune mediated diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). B cells in MS are skewed toward a pro-inflammatory profile, and contribute to MS pathogenesis by antibody production, antigen presentation, T cells stimulation and activation, driving autoproliferation of brain-homing autoreactive CD4+ T cells, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and formation of ectopic meningeal germinal centers that drive cortical pathology and contribute to neurological disability. The recent interest in the key role of B cells in MS has been evoked by the profound anti-inflammatory effects of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the B cell surface marker CD20, observed in relapsing-remitting MS. This has been reaffirmed by clinical trials with less immunogenic and more potent B cell-depleting mAbs targeting CD20 - ocrelizumab, ofatumumab and ublituximab. Ocrelizumab is also the first disease-modifying drug that has shown efficacy in primary-progressive MS, and is currently approved for both indications. Another promising approach is the inhibition of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, a key enzyme that mediates B cell activation and survival, by agents such as evobrutinib. On the other hand, targeting B cell cytokines with the fusion protein atacicept increased MS activity, highlighting the complex and not fully understood role of B cells and humoral immunity in MS. Finally, all other approved therapies for MS, some of which have been designed to target T cells, have some effects on the frequency, phenotype, or homing of B cells, which may contribute to their therapeutic activity.

The role of vitamin D and P2X7R in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by neuroinflammatory infiltrates and central nervous system demyelination. In the neuroinflammatory foci of MS there is increased expression of a purinergic receptor, P2X7R. Although implicated in the neuroinflammation, the exact role of P2X7R in the context of MS is unclear and forms the basis of this review. In this review, we also introduce the immunopathologies and inflammatory processes in MS, with a focus on P2X7R and the possible immunomodulatory role of vitamin D deficiency in this setting.

B-Cell Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis

B cells play a vital function in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis through an array of effector functions. All currently approved MS disease-modifying therapies alter the frequency, phenotype, or homing of B cells in one way or another. The importance of this mechanism of action has been reinforced with the successful development and clinical testing of B-cell-depleting monoclonal antibodies that target the CD20 surface antigen. Ocrelizumab, a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2017 after pivotal trials showed dramatic reductions in inflammatory disease activity in relapsing MS as well as lessening of disability progression in primary progressive MS. These and other clinical studies place B cells at the center of the inflammatory cascade in MS and provide a launching point for development of therapies that target selective pathogenic B-cell populations.

The role of B cells in multiple sclerosis: Current and future therapies

While it was long held that T cells were the primary mediators of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis, the beneficial effects observed in response to treatment with Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting CD20, shed light on a key contributor to MS that had been previously underappreciated: B cells. This has been reaffirmed by results from clinical trials testing the efficacy of subsequently developed B cell-depleting mAbs targeting CD20 as well as studies revisiting the effects of previous disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on B cell subsets thought to modulate disease severity. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding the complex roles of B cells in MS pathogenesis and current and potential future B cell-directed therapies.

Reassessing B cell contributions in multiple sclerosis

There is growing recognition that B cell contributions to normal immune responses extend well beyond their potential to become antibody-producing cells, including roles at the innate-adaptive interface and their potential to modulate the responses of other immune cells such as T cells and myeloid cells. These B cell functions can have both pathogenic and protective effects in the context of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Here, we review recent advances in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS), which has traditionally been viewed as primarily a T cell-mediated disease, and we consider antibody-dependent and, particularly, emerging antibody-independent functions of B cells that may be relevant in both the peripheral and CNS disease compartments.

B cells in multiple sclerosis therapy-A comprehensive review

For decades, B cells were ignored in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis, and the disease was always regarded as a T cell-mediated disorder. Recent evidence shows that there is an antigen-driven B-cell response in the central nervous system of patients with MS, and memory B cells/plasma cells are detectable in MS lesions. The striking efficacy of B cell-depleting therapies in reducing the inflammatory activity of the disease highlights that B cells may play more pathogenetic roles than expected. B cells express several unique characteristic markers on their surface, for example, CD19, CD20 molecules, that provide selective targets for monoclonal antibodies. In this respect, several B cell-targeted therapies emerged, including anti-CD20 antibodies (rituximab, ocrelizumab, and ofatumumab), anti-CD19 antibody (inebilizumab), and agents targeting the BAFF/APRIL signaling pathway (atacicept, belimumab, and LY2127399). In this review, we discuss, in detail, the immunobiology of B cells and their protective and destructive roles in MS pathogenesis. In the second part, we list the completed and ongoing clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of B cell-related monoclonal antibodies in MS.

Role of CXCL13 in the formation of the meningeal tertiary lymphoid organ in multiple sclerosis

Immunomodulatory therapies available for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) accomplish control and neutralization of peripheral immune cells involved in the activity of the disease cascade but their spectrum of action in the intrathecal space and brain tissue is limited, taking into consideration the persistence of oligoclonal bands and the variation of clones of lymphoid cells throughout the disease span. In animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the presence of CXCL13 has been associated with disease activity and the blockade of this chemokine could work as a potential complementary therapeutic strategy in patients with MS in order to postpone disease progression. The development of therapeutic alternatives with ability to modify the intrathecal inflammatory activity of the meningeal tertiary lymphoid organ to ameliorate neurodegeneration is mandatory.

Role of CXCL13 in the formation of the meningeal tertiary lymphoid organ in multiple sclerosis

Immunomodulatory therapies available for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) accomplish control and neutralization of peripheral immune cells involved in the activity of the disease cascade but their spectrum of action in the intrathecal space and brain tissue is limited, taking into consideration the persistence of oligoclonal bands and the variation of clones of lymphoid cells throughout the disease span. In animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the presence of CXCL13 has been associated with disease activity and the blockade of this chemokine could work as a potential complementary therapeutic strategy in patients with MS in order to postpone disease progression. The development of therapeutic alternatives with ability to modify the intrathecal inflammatory activity of the meningeal tertiary lymphoid organ to ameliorate neurodegeneration is mandatory.

Antibody repertoire analysis in polygenic autoimmune diseases

High-throughput sequencing of the DNA/RNA encoding antibody heavy- and light-chains is rapidly transforming the field of adaptive immunity. It can address key questions, including: (i) how the B-cell repertoire differs in health and disease; and (ii) if it does differ, the point(s) in B-cell development at which this occurs. The advent of technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing, offers the chance to link abnormalities in the B-cell antibody repertoire to specific genomic variants and polymorphisms. Here, we discuss the current research using B-cell antibody repertoire sequencing in three polygenic autoimmune diseases where there is good evidence for a pathological role for B-cells, namely systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. These autoimmune diseases exhibit significantly skewed B-cell receptor repertoires compared with healthy controls. Interestingly, some common repertoire defects are shared between diseases, such as elevated IGHV4-34 gene usage. B-cell clones have effectively been characterized and tracked between different tissues and blood in autoimmune disease. It has been hypothesized that these differences may signify differences in B-cell tolerance; however, the mechanisms and implications of these defects are not clear.

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in neuromyelitis optica: Review of evidence

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with preferential involvement in the optic nerve and spinal cord with a widespread spectrum of clinical features; multiple therapeutic agents have been used with different results. Recent evidence points to B-cell-mediated humoral immunity in the pathogenesis of NMO. Rituximab targets the CD20 antigen on B-cells. Treatment leads to profound B-cell depletion, principally over an antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity mechanism. The aim of our study was to review clinical trials to elucidate the impact of rituximab on the relapse rate, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and progression of disability in NMO. We performed a comprehensive review of all studies that evaluated clinical and paraclinical effects of rituximab on NMO. MEDLINE-PubMed, Web of Sciences, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases up to June 2016 included in our searches. In addition, reference lists from articles identified by search as well as a key review article to identify additional articles included in the study. Rituximab targets the CD20 antigen on B-cells and decreases attack frequency and severity in patients with NMO; however, it does not remove attacks, even when modifying treatment to achieve B-cell depletion. Most of the investigations revealed that EDSS significantly in all patients with rituximab treatment will be decreased after treatment with rituximab. No new or enlarged lesions or pathological gadolinium enhancement was observed in serial brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging, except for those observed concomitantly with clinical relapses and the median length of spinal cord lesions was significantly reduced after therapy. Rituximab targets the CD20 antigen and decreases attack frequency and severity in patients with NMO.

Treating primary-progressive multiple sclerosis: potential of ocrelizumab and review of B-cell therapies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy has evolved rapidly with an increased availability of several immunomodulating therapies over the past two decades. Disease-modifying therapies have proven to be effective in treating relapse-remitting MS (RRMS). However, clinical trials involving some of the same agents for secondary-progressive and primary-progressive MS (SPMS and PPMS) have been largely negative. The pathogenesis of progressive MS remains unclear, but B-cells may play a significant role in chronic compartmentalized inflammation, likely contributing to disease progression. Biologics targeted at B-cells, such as rituximab, are effective in treating RRMS. Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody to CD20+ B-cells that has shown positive results in PPMS with a significant reduction in disease progression. This review aims to discuss in detail the involvement of B-cells in MS pathogenesis, current progress of currently available and investigational biologics, with focus on ocrelizumab, and future prospects for B-cell therapy in PPMS.

Peripheral VH4+ plasmablasts demonstrate autoreactive B cell expansion toward brain antigens in early multiple sclerosis patients

Plasmablasts are a highly differentiated, antibody secreting B cell subset whose prevalence correlates with disease activity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). For most patients experiencing partial transverse myelitis (PTM), plasmablasts are elevated in the blood at the first clinical presentation of disease (known as a clinically isolated syndrome or CIS). In this study we found that many of these peripheral plasmablasts are autoreactive and recognize primarily gray matter targets in brain tissue. These plasmablasts express antibodies that over-utilize immunoglobulin heavy chain V-region subgroup 4 (VH4) genes, and the highly mutated VH4+ plasmablast antibodies recognize intracellular antigens of neurons and astrocytes. Most of the autoreactive, highly mutated VH4+ plasmablast antibodies recognize only a portion of cortical neurons, indicating that the response may be specific to neuronal subgroups or layers. Furthermore, CIS-PTM patients with this plasmablast response also exhibit modest reactivity toward neuroantigens in the plasma IgG antibody pool. Taken together, these data indicate that expanded VH4+ peripheral plasmablasts in early MS patients recognize brain gray matter antigens. Peripheral plasmablasts may be participating in the autoimmune response associated with MS, and provide an interesting avenue for investigating the expansion of autoreactive B cells at the time of the first documented clinical event.

The usefulness of immunotherapy in pediatric neurodegenerative disorders: A systematic review of literature data

Immunotherapeutic strategies to treat neurodegenerative disorders have inspired the scientific community. The aim of our review is to address the translational aspects of neuroimmunology to describe the efficacy of immunotherapy in the treatment of pediatric neurodegenerative disorders. In the studies we analyzed IVIG were found to be efficient in the treatment of post-streptococcal neurodegenerative disorders, even if in PANDAS, plasma-exchange (PE) showed a higher efficiency. IVIG were also successfully used in ADEM and Guillan-Barré syndrome. In Sydenham Chorea the use of methylprednisolone was found in most cases as efficient as IVIG, while in Tourette's Syndrome, Colecoxib was successfully used in one patient. Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis seems to respond better to immunosuppressant agents (Mitoxantrone, Cyclophosphamide, Natalizumab), as well as Neuromyelitis optica (Rituximab, Mycofenolate). The importance of this review relies in the attempt to draw standardized guidelines for immunotherapy in pediatric neurodegeneratve disorders.

[Plasmablast in the pathology of multiple sclerosis]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease targeting oligodendrocyte in the central nervous system and involves heterogeneous pathology that yields considerable nonresponders to the first line therapy interferon (IFN)-β. However, determinants for this clinical efficacy have not been elucidated. Interestingly, an MS-like autoimmune disease neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is exclusively resistant to this therapy and mediated by IL-6-dependnet PBs via producing a disease-specific autoantibody against aquaporin 4 (AQP4) on astrocyte. Therefore, we assumed that IFN-β-nonresponsive patients with MS may have the similar B-cell abnormality and found an expansion of circulating PBs in these nonresponders. In addition, these PBs exhibited an IL-6-dependent survival in vitro like those in NMO. Clinical features of such "PB-high" patients were consistent with antoantibody-mediated pathology. Thus, we are administering anti-IL-6 receptor blocking antibody tocilizumab to these intractable patients with MS to achieve precision medicine for MS.

Recent Advances in Monoclonal Antibody Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

INTRODUCTION

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the CNS and results in neurological disability. Existing immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive approaches lower the number of relapses but do not cure or reverse existing deficits nor improve long-term disability in MS patients.

AREAS COVERED

Monogenic antibodies were described as treatment options for MS, however the immunogenicity of mouse antibodies hampered the efficacy of potential therapeutics in humans. Availability of improved antibody production technologies resulted in a paradigm shift in MS treatment strategies. In this review, an overview of immunotherapies for MS that use conventional monoclonal antibodies reactive to immune system and their properties and mechanisms of action will be discussed, including recent advances in MS therapeutics and highlight natural autoantibodies (NAbs) that directly target CNS cells.

EXPERT OPINION

Recent challenges for MS therapy are the identification of relevant molecular and cellular targets, time frame of treatment, and antibody toxicity profiles to identify safe treatment options for MS patients. The application of monoclonal antibody therapies with better biological efficacy associated with minimum side effects possesses huge clinical potential. Advances in monoclonal antibody technologies that directly target cells of nervous system may promote the CNS regeneration field from bench to bedside.

High-throughput sequencing of immune repertoires in multiple sclerosis

T cells and B cells are crucial in the initiation and maintenance of multiple sclerosis (MS), and the activation of these cells is believed to be mediated through specific recognition of antigens by the T‐ and B‐cell receptors. The antigen receptors are highly polymorphic due to recombination (T‐ and B‐cell receptors) and mutation (B‐cell receptors) of the encoding genes, which can therefore be used as fingerprints to track individual T‐ and B‐cell clones. Such studies can shed light on mechanisms driving the immune responses and provide new insights into the pathogenesis. Here, we summarize studies that have explored the T‐ and B‐cell receptor repertoires using earlier methodological approaches, and we focus on how high‐throughput sequencing has provided new knowledge by surveying the immune repertoires in MS in even greater detail and with unprecedented depth.

Exploring potential mechanisms of action of natalizumab in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common and chronic central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disease and a leading cause of permanent disability. Patients most often present with a relapsing-remitting disease course, typically progressing over time to a phase of relentless advancement in secondary progressive MS (SPMS), for which approved disease-modifying therapies are limited. In this review, we summarize the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of SPMS and the rationale and clinical potential for natalizumab, which is currently approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS, to exert beneficial effects in reducing disease progression unrelated to relapses in SPMS. In both forms of MS, active brain-tissue injury is associated with inflammation; but in SPMS, the inflammatory response occurs at least partly behind the blood-brain barrier and is followed by a cascade of events, including persistent microglial activation that may lead to chronic demyelination and neurodegeneration associated with irreversible disability. In patients with relapsing forms of MS, natalizumab therapy is known to significantly reduce intrathecal inflammatory responses which results in reductions in brain lesions and brain atrophy as well as beneficial effects on clinical measures, such as reduced frequency and severity of relapse and reduced accumulation of disability. Natalizumab treatment also reduces levels of cerebrospinal fluid chemokines and other biomarkers of intrathecal inflammation, axonal damage and demyelination, and has demonstrated the ability to reduce innate immune activation and intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis in patients with MS. The efficacy of natalizumab therapy in SPMS is currently being investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

B Cells in the Multiple Sclerosis Central Nervous System: Trafficking and Contribution to CNS-Compartmentalized Inflammation

Clinical trial results of peripheral B cell depletion indicate abnormal proinflammatory B cell properties, and particularly antibody-independent functions, contribute to relapsing MS disease activity. However, potential roles of B cells in progressive forms of disease continue to be debated. Prior work indicates that presence of B cells is fostered within the inflamed MS central nervous system (CNS) environment, and that B cell-rich immune cell collections may be present within the meninges of patients. A potential association is reported between such meningeal immune cell collections and the subpial pattern of cortical injury that is now considered important in progressive disease. Elucidating the characteristics of B cells that populate the MS CNS, how they traffic into the CNS and how they may contribute to progressive forms of the disease has become of considerable interest. Here, we will review characteristics of human B cells identified within distinct CNS subcompartments of patients with MS, including the cerebrospinal fluid, parenchymal lesions, and meninges, as well as the relationship between B cell populations identified in these subcompartments and the periphery. We will further describe the different barriers of the CNS and the possible mechanisms of migration of B cells across these barriers. Finally, we will consider the range of human B cell responses (including potential for antibody production, cytokine secretion, and antigen presentation) that may contribute to propagating inflammation and injury cascades thought to underlie MS progression.

MSPrecise: A molecular diagnostic test for multiple sclerosis using next generation sequencing

BACKGROUND

We have previously demonstrated that cerebrospinal fluid-derived B cells from early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients that express a VH4 gene accumulate specific replacement mutations. These mutations can be quantified as a score that identifies such patients as having or likely to convert to RRMS. Furthermore, we showed that next generation sequencing is an efficient method for obtaining the sequencing information required by this mutation scoring tool, originally developed using the less clinically viable single-cell Sanger sequencing.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the accuracy of MSPrecise, the diagnostic test that identifies the presence of the RRMS-enriched mutation pattern from patient cerebrospinal fluid B cells.

METHODS

Cerebrospinal fluid cell pellets were obtained from RRMS and other neurological disease (OND) patient cohorts. VH4 gene segments were amplified, sequenced by next generation sequencing and analyzed for mutation score.

RESULTS

The diagnostic test showed a sensitivity of 75% on the RRMS cohort and a specificity of 88% on the OND cohort. The accuracy of the test in identifying RRMS patients or patients that will develop RRMS is 84%.

CONCLUSION

MSPrecise exhibits good performance in identifying patients with RRMS irrespective of time with RRMS.

The Ins and Outs of B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis

B cells play a central role in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. B and plasma cells may contribute to disease activity through multiple mechanisms: antigen presentation, cytokine secretion, or antibody production. Molecular analyses of B cell populations in MS patients have revealed significant overlaps between peripheral lymphoid and clonally expanded central nervous system (CNS) B cell populations, indicating that B cell trafficking may play a critical role in driving MS exacerbations. In this review, we will assess our current knowledge of the mechanisms and pathways governing B cell migration into the CNS and examine evidence for and against a compartmentalized B cell response driving progressive MS pathology.

Immunoglobulin class-switched B cells form an active immune axis between CNS and periphery in multiple sclerosis

In multiple sclerosis (MS), lymphocyte--in particular B cell--transit between the central nervous system (CNS) and periphery may contribute to the maintenance of active disease. Clonally related B cells exist in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) of MS patients; however, it remains unclear which subpopulations of the highly diverse peripheral B cell compartment share antigen specificity with intrathecal B cell repertoires and whether their antigen stimulation occurs on both sides of the blood-brain barrier. To address these questions, we combined flow cytometric sorting of PB B cell subsets with deep immune repertoire sequencing of CSF and PB B cells. Immunoglobulin (IgM and IgG) heavy chain variable (VH) region repertoires of five PB B cell subsets from MS patients were compared with their CSF Ig-VH transcriptomes. In six of eight patients, we identified peripheral CD27(+)IgD(-) memory B cells, CD27(hi)CD38(hi) plasma cells/plasmablasts, or CD27(-)IgD(-) B cells that had an immune connection to the CNS compartment. Pinpointing Ig class-switched B cells as key component of the immune axis thought to contribute to ongoing MS disease activity strengthens the rationale of current B cell-targeting therapeutic strategies and may lead to more targeted approaches.

Update on the autoimmune pathology of multiple sclerosis: B-cells as disease-drivers and therapeutic targets

BACKGROUND

Collectively, research on the role of B-cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) illustrates how translational medicine has given rise to promising therapeutic approaches for one of the most debilitating chronic neurological diseases in young adults. First described in 1935, the experimental autoimmune/allergic encephalomyelitis model is a key animal model that has provided the foundation for important developments in targeted therapeutics.

SUMMARY

While additional B-cell therapies for MS are presently being developed by the pharmaceutical industry, much remains to be understood about the role played by B-cells in MS. The goal of this review is to summarize how B-cells may contribute to MS pathogenesis and thereby provide a basis for understanding why B-cell depletion is so effective in the treatment of this disease. Key Messages: B-cells are key players in the pathogenesis of MS, and their depletion via B-cell-targeted therapy ameliorates disease activity.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

In 2008, data from the first CD20-targeting B-cell depleting therapeutic trials using rituximab in MS were published. Since then, there has been a large body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of B-cell depletion mediated via anti-CD20 antibodies. Intense research efforts focusing on the immunopathological relevance of B-cells has gained significant momentum and given rise to a constellation of promising therapeutic agents for this complex B-cell-driven disease, including novel anti-CD20 antibodies, as well as agents targeting CD19 and BAFF-R.

Intrathecal IgG synthesis: a resistant and valuable target for future multiple sclerosis treatments

Intrathecal IgG synthesis is a key biological feature of multiple sclerosis (MS). When acquired early, it persists over time. A growing body of evidence suggests that intrathecal Ig-secreting cells may be pathogenic either by a direct action of toxic IgG or by locally secreting bystander toxic products. Intrathecal IgG synthesis depends on the presence of CNS lymphoid organs, which are strongly linked at anatomical level to cortical subpial lesions and at clinical level to the impairment slope in progressive MS. As a consequence, targeting CNS lymphoid lesions could be a valuable new target in MS, especially during the progressive phase. As intrathecal IgGs are end-products of these lymphoid lesions, intrathecal IgG synthesis may be considered as a specific marker of the persistence of these inflammatory lesions. Here we review the effect upon intrathecal IgG synthesis of all drugs ever used in MS. Except for steroids, all these therapeutic strategies, including rituximab, failed to decrease intrathecal IgG synthesis, with the exception of a questionable incomplete action of natalizumab. Thus, IgG synthesis is a robust marker of persistent intrathecal inflammation and its complete normalization should be one of the goals in future therapeutic strategies.

Capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay as a new nanoscale approach for the detection of oligoclonal bands

The detection of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in cerebrospinal fluid is an indicator of intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins which is a neurochemical sign of chronic inflammatory brain diseases. Intrathecally synthesized IgGs are typically observed in patients with multiple sclerosis. The current standard protocol for the detection of OCBs is IEF on agarose or polyacrylamide gels followed by immunoblotting or silver staining. These methods are time consuming, show substantial interlaboratory variation and cannot be used in a high throughput-approach. We have developed a new nanoscale method for the detection of OCBs based on automated capillary IEF followed by immunological detection. Evidence for intrathecal IgG synthesis was found in all tested patients (n = 27) with multiple sclerosis, even in two subjects who did not have oligoclonal bands according to standard methods. The test specificity was at 97.5% (n = 19). Our findings indicate that the novel OCB-CIEF-immunoassay is suitable for the rapid and highly sensitive detection of OCBs in clinical samples. Furthermore, the method allows for a higher sample throughput than the current standard methods.