B-Cell Dysregulation in Crohn's Disease Is Partially Restored with Infliximab Therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

B-cell depletion can improve a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases, but does not appear beneficial for patients with Crohn's disease.

Objective

To elucidate the involvement of B cells in Crohn's disease, we here performed an 'in depth' analysis of intestinal and blood B-cells in this chronic inflammatory disease.

Methods

Patients with Crohn's disease were recruited to study B-cell infiltrates in intestinal biopsies (n = 5), serum immunoglobulin levels and the phenotype and molecular characteristics of blood B-cell subsets (n = 21). The effects of infliximab treatment were studied in 9 patients.

Results

Granulomatous tissue showed infiltrates of B lymphocytes rather than Ig-secreting plasma cells. Circulating transitional B cells and CD21low B ce

SUBMITTER: Timmermans WM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4965034 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature