B cells orchestrate tolerance to the neuromyelitis optica autoantigen AQP4. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38383779/)

These scientists wanted to understand how the immune system works in a disease called neuromyelitis optica, which affects the central nervous system. In this disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks a protein called AQP4, causing damage to the nervous system.

To study this, the scientists looked at how a type of immune cell called B cells responds when they are activated by certain signals in the body. They found that when B cells are activated, they start making AQP4 themselves and can show it to another type of immune cell called T cells.

The scientists discovered that a specific group of B cells in the body can help to regulate the T cells that react to AQP4. By studying mice and humans, they found that these B cells play a crucial role in preventing the immune system from attacking AQP4.

By understanding how these B cells work, the scientists hope to find new ways to treat diseases like neuromyelitis optica by targeting the immune response more effectively.

Afzali AM., Nirschl L., Sie C., Pfaller M., Ulianov O., Hassler T., Federle C., Petrozziello E., Kalluri SR., Chen HH., Tyystjarvi S., Muschaweckh A., Lammens K., Delbridge C., Buttner A., Steiger K., Seyhan G., Ottersen OP., Ollinger R., Rad R., Jarosch S., Straub A., Muhlbauer A., Grassmann S., Hemmer B., Bottcher JP., Wagner I., Kreutzfeldt M., Merkler D., Pardas IB., Schmidt Supprian M., Buchholz VR., Heink S., Busch DH., Klein L., Korn T. B cells orchestrate tolerance to the neuromyelitis optica autoantigen AQP4. Nature. 2024 Feb 21. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07079-8.