The VH repertoire and clonal diversification of B cells in inflammatory myopathies. Issue 2 (16th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McIntyre, Donna; Zuckerman, Neta S.; Field, Max; Mehr, Ramit; Stott, David I.
• Is Part Of: European journal of immunology. Volume 44:Issue 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 585
• Page End: 596
• Publication Date: 2014-01-16
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.201343315
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-2980

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The contribution of antigen‐driven B‐cell adaptive immune responses within the inflamed muscle of inflammatory myopathies (IMs) is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the immunoglobulin V_H gene repertoire, somatic hypermutation, clonal diversification, and selection of infiltrating B cells in muscle biopsies from IM patients (dermatomyositis and polymyositis), to determine whether B cells and/or plasma cells contribute to the associated pathologies of these diseases. The data reveal that Ig V_H gene repertoires of muscle‐infiltrating B cells deviate from the normal V_H gene repertoire in individual patients, and differ between different types of IMs. Analysis of somatic mutations revealed clonal diversification of muscle‐infiltrating B cells and evidence for a chronic B‐cell response within the inflamed muscle. We conclude that muscle‐infiltrating B cells undergo selection, somatic hypermutation and clonal diversification in situ during antigen‐driven immune responses in patients with IMs, providing insight into the contribution of B cells to the pathological mechanisms of these disorders.</p> </abstract>