B cells produce less IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in myasthenia gravis

Yilmaz V., Oflazer P., AYSAL F., Parman Y. G., Direskeneli H., Deymeer F., ...More

Autoimmunity, vol.48, no.4, pp.201-207, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 48 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.3109/08916934.2014.992517
  • Journal Name: Autoimmunity
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.201-207
  • Keywords: Autoantibody, B cell, cytokine, myasthenia gravis, BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS, MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION, REACTIVE T-CELLS, MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS, RECEPTOR, CYTOKINES, SUBPOPULATIONS, AUTOIMMUNITY, ACTIVATION, ANTIBODIES
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved.B cells from myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with autoantibodies (Aab) against acetylcholine receptor (AChR), muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) or with no detectable Aab were investigated as cytokine producing cells in this study. B cells were evaluated for memory phenotypes and expressions of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-12A. Induced productions of IL-10, IL-6, IL-12p40, TNF-α and LT from isolated B cells in vitro were measured by immunoassays. MG patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment had higher proportions of memory B cells compared with healthy controls and untreated patients. With CD40 stimulation MG patients produced significantly lower levels of IL-10, IL-6. With CD40 and B cell receptor stimulation of B cells, TNF-α production also decreased in addition to these cytokines. The lower levels of these cytokine productions were not related to treatment. Our results confirm a disturbance of B cell subpopulations in MG subgroups on immunosuppressive treatment. B cell derived IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α are down-regulated in MG, irrespective of different antibody productions. Ineffective cytokine production by B cells may be a susceptibility factor in dysregulation of autoimmune Aab production.