G1m1 predominance of intrathecal virus-specific antibodies in multiple sclerosis

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2018 Sep 17;5(10):1303-1309. doi: 10.1002/acn3.642. eCollection 2018 Oct.

Abstract

We have previously shown that plasmablasts of the G1m1 allotype of IgG1 are selectively enriched in the cerebrospinal fluid of G1m1/G1m3 heterozygous patients with multiple sclerosis, whereas both allotypes are equally used in neuroborreliosis. Here, we demonstrate a strong preference for the G1m1 allotype in the intrathecal humoral immune responses against measles, rubella, and varicella zoster virus in G1m1/G1m3 heterozygous multiple sclerosis patients. Conversely, intrathecally synthesized varicella zoster virus-specific IgG1 in varicella zoster virus meningoencephalitis comprised both allotypes. This implies that G1m1 B cells are selected to the central nervous system of multiple sclerosis patients regardless of specificity and suggests that an antigen-independent mechanism could drive the intrathecal humoral immune response.

Grants and funding

This work was funded by South Eastern Health Authorities grant 2016079.