Biomaterial Database

Long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells produce pathogenic anti-GAD65 autoantibodies in Stiff Person Syndrome. 2010

Marta Rizzi, and Rolf Knoth, and Christiane S Hampe, and Peter Lorenz, and Marie-Lise Gougeon, and Brigitte Lemercier, and Nils Venhoff, and Francesca Ferrera, and Ulrich Salzer, and Hans-Jürgen Thiesen, and Hans-Hartmut Peter, and Ulrich A Walker, and Hermann Eibel

Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare, neurological disorder characterized by sudden cramps and spasms. High titers of enzyme-inhibiting IgG autoantibodies against the 65 kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) are a hallmark of SPS, implicating an autoimmune component in the pathology of the syndrome. Studying the B cell compartment and the anti-GAD65 B cell response in two monozygotic twins suffering from SPS, who were treated with the B cell-depleting monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab, we found that the humoral autoimmune response in SPS is composed of a rituximab-sensitive part that is rapidly cleared after treatment, and a rituximab-resistant component, which persists and acts as a reservoir for autoantibodies inhibiting GAD65 enzyme activity. Our data show that these potentially pathogenic anti-GAD65 autoantibodies are secreted by long-lived plasma cells, which may either be persistent or develop from rituximab-resistant memory B lymphocytes. Both subsets represent only a fraction of anti-GAD65 autoantibody secreting cells. Therefore, the identification and targeting of this compartment is a key factor for successful treatment planning of SPS and of similar autoimmune diseases.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007074	Immunoglobulin G	The major immunoglobulin isotype class in normal human serum. There are several isotype subclasses of IgG, for example, IgG1, IgG2A, and IgG2B.	Gamma Globulin, 7S,IgG,IgG Antibody,Allerglobuline,IgG(T),IgG1,IgG2,IgG2A,IgG2B,IgG3,IgG4,Immunoglobulin GT,Polyglobin,7S Gamma Globulin,Antibody, IgG,GT, Immunoglobulin
D007156	Immunologic Memory	The altered state of immunologic responsiveness resulting from initial contact with antigen, which enables the individual to produce antibodies more rapidly and in greater quantity in response to secondary antigenic stimulus.	Immune Memory,Immunological Memory,Memory, Immunologic,Immune Memories,Immunologic Memories,Immunological Memories,Memory, Immune,Memory, Immunological
D008212	Lymphocyte Depletion	Immunosuppression by reduction of circulating lymphocytes or by T-cell depletion of bone marrow. The former may be accomplished in vivo by thoracic duct drainage or administration of antilymphocyte serum. The latter is performed ex vivo on bone marrow before its transplantation.	Depletion, Lymphocyte
D010950	Plasma Cells	Specialized forms of antibody-producing B-LYMPHOCYTES. They synthesize and secrete immunoglobulin. They are found only in lymphoid organs and at sites of immune responses and normally do not circulate in the blood or lymph. (Rosen et al., Dictionary of Immunology, 1989, p169 & Abbas et al., Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 2d ed, p20)	Plasmacytes,Cell, Plasma,Cells, Plasma,Plasma Cell,Plasmacyte
D011947	Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell	IMMUNOGLOBULINS on the surface of B-LYMPHOCYTES. Their MESSENGER RNA contains an EXON with a membrane spanning sequence, producing immunoglobulins in the form of type I transmembrane proteins as opposed to secreted immunoglobulins (ANTIBODIES) which do not contain the membrane spanning segment.	Antigen Receptors, B-Cell,B-Cell Antigen Receptor,B-Cell Antigen Receptors,Surface Immunoglobulin,Immunoglobulins, Membrane-Bound,Immunoglobulins, Surface,Membrane Bound Immunoglobulin,Membrane-Bound Immunoglobulins,Receptors, Antigen, B Cell,Surface Immunoglobulins,Antigen Receptor, B-Cell,Antigen Receptors, B Cell,B Cell Antigen Receptor,B Cell Antigen Receptors,Bound Immunoglobulin, Membrane,Immunoglobulin, Membrane Bound,Immunoglobulin, Surface,Immunoglobulins, Membrane Bound,Membrane Bound Immunoglobulins,Receptor, B-Cell Antigen,Receptors, B-Cell Antigen
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D002999	Clone Cells	A group of genetically identical cells all descended from a single common ancestral cell by mitosis in eukaryotes or by binary fission in prokaryotes. Clone cells also include populations of recombinant DNA molecules all carrying the same inserted sequence. (From King & Stansfield, Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Clones,Cell, Clone,Cells, Clone,Clone,Clone Cell
D005968	Glutamate Decarboxylase	A pyridoxal-phosphate protein that catalyzes the alpha-decarboxylation of L-glutamic acid to form gamma-aminobutyric acid and carbon dioxide. The enzyme is found in bacteria and in invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems. It is the rate-limiting enzyme in determining GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID levels in normal nervous tissues. The brain enzyme also acts on L-cysteate, L-cysteine sulfinate, and L-aspartate. EC 4.1.1.15.	Glutamate Carboxy-Lyase,Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase,Acid Decarboxylase, Glutamic,Carboxy-Lyase, Glutamate,Decarboxylase, Glutamate,Decarboxylase, Glutamic Acid,Glutamate Carboxy Lyase
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man