Impact of cytomegalovirus infection on B cell differentiation and cytokine production in multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been recently associated with a low risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet the basis behind this observation remains uncertain. In this study, we aimed to determine in MS patients whether HCMV induces modifications in the peripheral B cell compartment.

Methods

HCMV serostatus was determined in 73 MS patients (55 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS); 18 progressive MS (PMS)) and 30 healthy controls, assessing their B cell immunophenotype and cytokine production (GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-10, and TNFα) by flow cytometry.

Results

HCMV seropositivity in untreated MS patients (n = 45) was associated with reduced switched memory B cells, contrasting with an opposite effect in PMS. Expansions of transitional B cells were observed in HCMV(+

SUBMITTER: Zabalza A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7238600 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature