Activated memory B cell subsets correlate with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: delineation by expression of CD27, IgD, and CD95
AM Jacobi, K Reiter, M Mackay… - … : Official Journal of …, 2008 - Wiley Online Library
AM Jacobi, K Reiter, M Mackay, C Aranow, F Hiepe, A Radbruch, A Hansen, GR Burmester…
Arthritis & Rheumatism: Official Journal of the American College …, 2008•Wiley Online LibraryObjective Analysis of peripheral B cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) has provided evidence of specific alterations, such as an expansion of CD27++
plasma cells/blasts and transitional B cells. However, memory B cells in lupus have not been
thoroughly investigated, and only recently a CD27− memory B cell subset was identified in
the peripheral blood of lupus patients. Focusing on CD27− B cells, this study aimed to
identify abnormalities in peripheral B cell subsets in patients with SLE. Methods Three …
(SLE) has provided evidence of specific alterations, such as an expansion of CD27++
plasma cells/blasts and transitional B cells. However, memory B cells in lupus have not been
thoroughly investigated, and only recently a CD27− memory B cell subset was identified in
the peripheral blood of lupus patients. Focusing on CD27− B cells, this study aimed to
identify abnormalities in peripheral B cell subsets in patients with SLE. Methods Three …
Objective
Analysis of peripheral B cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has provided evidence of specific alterations, such as an expansion of CD27++ plasma cells/blasts and transitional B cells. However, memory B cells in lupus have not been thoroughly investigated, and only recently a CD27− memory B cell subset was identified in the peripheral blood of lupus patients. Focusing on CD27− B cells, this study aimed to identify abnormalities in peripheral B cell subsets in patients with SLE.
Methods
Three independent cohorts of lupus patients were used to characterize CD27− memory B cells, using multiparameter flow cytometry and single‐cell reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction of heavy‐chain transcripts.
Results
We identified a homogeneous subset of CD27−,IgD−,CD95+ memory B cells with an activated phenotype that was increased in patients with disease flares and that correlated with disease activity and serologic abnormalities. In contrast, the entire subset of CD27−,IgD− B cells was found to be heterogeneous, did not correlate significantly with lupus activity, and was also increased in patients with bacterial infections.
Conclusion
We conclude that CD95 is a useful marker to identify CD27− memory B cells with an activated phenotype, which might serve as a biomarker for lupus activity and as a target of further investigations aiming to elucidate the pathogenic potential of these cells and the mechanisms involved in the generation as well as regulation of this CD27−,IgD−,CD95+ memory B cell subset.
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