Depletion of CD20 B cells fails to inhibit relapsing mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

E Sefia, G Pryce, UC Meier, G Giovannoni… - Multiple sclerosis and …, 2017 - Elsevier
E Sefia, G Pryce, UC Meier, G Giovannoni, D Baker
Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 2017Elsevier
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often considered to be a CD4, T cell-mediated
disease. This is largely based on the capacity of CD4 T cells to induce relapsing
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rodents. However, CD4-depletion
using a monoclonal antibody was considered unsuccessful and relapsing MS responds well
to B cell depletion via CD20 B cell depleting antibodies. The influence of CD20 B cell
depletion in relapsing EAE was assessed. Methods Relapsing EAE was induced in Biozzi …
Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often considered to be a CD4, T cell-mediated disease. This is largely based on the capacity of CD4 T cells to induce relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rodents. However, CD4-depletion using a monoclonal antibody was considered unsuccessful and relapsing MS responds well to B cell depletion via CD20 B cell depleting antibodies. The influence of CD20 B cell depletion in relapsing EAE was assessed.
Methods
Relapsing EAE was induced in Biozzi ABH mice. These were treated with CD20-specific (18B12) antibody and the influence on CD45RA-B220 B cell depletion and clinical course was analysed.
Results
Relapsing EAE in Biozzi ABH failed to respond to the marked B cell depletion induced with a CD20-specific antibody. In contrast to CD20 and CD8-specific antibodies, CD4 T cell depletion inhibited EAE.
Conclusion
Spinal cord antigen-induced disease in ABH mice is CD4 T cell-dependent. The lack of influence of CD20 B cell depletion in relapsing EAE, coupled with the relatively marginal and inconsistent results obtained in other mouse studies, suggests that rodents may have limited value in understanding the mechanism occurring following CD20 B cell depletion in humans.
Elsevier