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Cooperation of B Cells and T Cells in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis

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Molecular Basis of Multiple Sclerosis

Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 51))

Abstract

B cells and T cells are two major players in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and cooperate at various check points. B cells, besides serving as a source for antibody-secreting plasma cells, are efficient antigen presenting cells for processing of intact myelin antigen and subsequent activation and pro-inflammatory differentiation of T cells. This notion is supported by the immediate clinical benefit of therapeutic B cell depletion in MS, presumably abrogating development of encephalitogenic T cells. However, different B cell subsets strongly vary in their respective effect on T cell differentiation which may relate to B cell phenotype, activation status, antigen specificity and the immunological environment where a B cell encounters a naïve T cell in. In this regard, some B cells also have anti-inflammatory properties producing regulatory cytokines and facilitating development and maintenance of other immunomodulatory immune cells, such as regulatory T cells. Reciprocally, differentiated T cells influence T cell polarizing B cell properties establishing a positive feedback loop of joint pro- or anti-inflammatory B and T cell developments. Further, under the control of activated T helper cells, antigen-primed B cells can switch immunoglobulin isotype, terminally commit to the plasma cell pathway or enter the germinal center reaction to memory B Cell development. Taken together, B cells and T cells thus closely support one another to participate in the pathogenesis of MS in an inflammatory but also in a regulatory manner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Martin S. Weber & Bernhard Hemmer

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  1. Martin S. Weber
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  2. Bernhard Hemmer
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Correspondence to Bernhard Hemmer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Neuroimmunologie und, Klinische Multiple-Sklerose-Forschung, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Falkenried 94, Hamburg, 20251, Germany

    Roland Martin

  2. , Clinical Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria

    Andreas Lutterotti

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Weber, M.S., Hemmer, B. (2009). Cooperation of B Cells and T Cells in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis. In: Martin, R., Lutterotti, A. (eds) Molecular Basis of Multiple Sclerosis. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 51. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/400_2009_21

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