Profiling of B cells and their subsets by whole blood gene expression analysis versus flow cytometry in multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024 Nov:91:105898. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105898. Epub 2024 Sep 17.

Abstract

We investigated if differentially expressed mRNA targets could be used as surrogate markers for circulating B cells and subsets. In paired blood samples from patients with untreated, anti-CD20-treated, fingolimod-treated, and natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis, whole blood expression of CD19 correlated with B cell counts determined by flow cytometry, ROR1 with transitional B cells, TCL1A and ZNF727 with naïve B cells, NEXMIF with memory B cells and BCMA with plasmablasts. CD19 expression distinguished patients with B cell repletion and may be used as an alternative to flow cytometry, but NEXMIF was unsuitable for memory B cell monitoring in rituximab-treated patients.

Keywords: Anti-CD20; Cell sorting; Extended interval dosing; Infusion; Microarray.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets
  • B-Lymphocytes*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors