151. The expression of BAFF-binding receptors is not altered in multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis.
- Author
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Thangarajh M, Kisiswa L, Pirskanen R, and Hillert J
- Subjects
- Adult, B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor physiology, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Male, Multiple Sclerosis genetics, Myasthenia Gravis genetics, Protein Binding immunology, B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor biosynthesis, B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor genetics, Multiple Sclerosis immunology, Multiple Sclerosis metabolism, Myasthenia Gravis immunology, Myasthenia Gravis metabolism
- Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by consistent myelin injury. Antibody-mediated death of oligodendrocytes is a pathological feature in a subset of MS patients and may be of relevance to disease pathogenesis. In myasthenia gravis (MG), acetylcholine receptors (AChR) situated at the neuromuscular endplate are destroyed by autoreactive antibodies. B-cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (BAFF) is essential for B-cell survival. Using flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of three BAFF-binding receptors, namely, BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), and transmembrane activator and calcium modulating and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) in peripheral-blood lymphocytes. Nearly all CD19(+) B cells and CD19(+)CD27(+) memory B cells expressed BAFF-R. The intensity of BAFF-R expression was not statistically different in MS or MG compared with healthy controls. Very few T cells expressed BAFF-R. BCMA expression was strictly limited to B cells. Although both B and T cells expressed TACI, levels were much higher on B cells compared with levels on T cells. The percentages of B and T cells expressing BCMA and TACI did not differ significantly in MS or MG versus controls. We conclude that the expression of BAFF-binding receptors is not appreciably altered in MS or MG.
- Published
- 2007
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