Archive | 2021
The expansion of activated naive DNA autoreactive B Cells and its association with disease activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients
Abstract
\n Background\n\nAutoreactive B cells are well recognized as key participants in the pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, elucidating the particular subset of B cells in producing anti-dsDNA antibodies is limited due to their B cell heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify B cell subpopulations that display autoreactivity to DNA and contribute to lupus pathogenesis.\nMethods\n\nFlow cytometry was used to detect total B cell subsets (n\u2009=\u200920) and DNA autoreactive B cells (n\u2009=\u200915) in SLE patients peripheral blood. Clinical disease activities were assessed in SLE patients using modified SLEDAI-2K and used for correlation analyses with expanded B cell subsets and DNA autoreactive B cells.\nResults\n\nThe increases of circulating double negative 2 (DN2) and activated naïve (aNAV) B cells were significantly observed in SLE patients. Expanded B cell subsets and DNA autoreactive B cells represented a high proportion of aNAV B cells with overexpression of CD69 and CD86. The frequencies of aNAV B cells in total B cell populations were significantly correlated with modified SLEDAI-2K scores. Further analysis showed that expansion of aNAV DNA autoreactive B cells was more related to disease activity and serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels than to total aNAV B cells.\nConclusion\n\nOur study demonstrated an expansion of aNAV B cells in SLE patients. The association between the frequency of aNAV B cells and disease activity patients suggested that these expanded B cells may play a role in SLE pathogenesis. Thus, aNAV B cells may provide a candidate biomarker for monitoring disease activity in these patients.