The Proportion And Significance Of Regulatory B Cells In Peripheral Blood Of Patients With Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

Objective:This study is aimed at examining different subsets and potential roles of the proportion and significance of Bregs in the PBMCs of patients with NMOSDs compared to healthy controls. Then we explore the correlation between different subsets of Bregs and NMOSDs disease severity and uncover the crucial role of Bregs in the process of NMOSDs. It will open the gates for a promising novel approach to treat NMOSDs.Patient and Method:A total of 22 patients with relapsed NMOSDs were recruited in the inpatient service of the department of Neurology in the First Hospital of Jilin University.Besides, 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited from May 2015 to March 2016. These patients were diagnosed by two neuroimmunologic physicians according to the 2015 new diagnostic criteria for NMOSDs. Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants and relatives of patients. The clinical characteristics of these patients are collected. Also, the disease severity of these patients was evaluated by using Expanded Disability Status Scale(EDSS).1. Three different subsets of CD19+CD24hi CD27+ 、 CD19+CD5+CD1dhi 、CD19+CD24hi CD38 hi Bregs were tested in the PBMCs of all individual participants and healthy controls by using flow cytometry.2. To analysis the correlation between different subsets of Bregs and the disease severity of EDSS score as well as ARR.Result:1. Significantly lower percentages of CD19+CD24hi CD38 hi Bregs were discovered in the PBMCs of patients with NMOSDs(4.07±0.03) compared to healthy individuals(5.65±0.02)(P<0.05).2. Significantly higher percentages of CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs were discovered in the PBMCs of patients with NMOSDs(34.74±0.10) compared to healthy individuals(26.23±0.11)(P<0.05).3. Significantly lower percentages of CD19+CD5+CD1dhiBregs were discovered in the PBMCs of patients with NMOSDs(2.78±0.02) compared to healthy individuals(5.73±0.03)(P<0.001).4. Different subsets of Bregs had no significant correlation with EDSS(P>0.05)and ARR(P>0.05).Conclusion:1. Significantly lower percentages of CD19+CD5+CD1dhi and CD19+CD24hi CD38 hi Bregs in CD19+B cells were discovered in patients with NMOSDs compared to healthy individuals.2. Significantly higher percentages of CD19+CD24hiCD27+Bregs in CD19+B cells were discovered in patients with NMOSDs compared to healthy individuals.3. Different subsets of Bregs had no significant correlation with EDSS and ARR.