2017
Autoantibody-producing plasmablasts after B cell depletion identified in muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis
Stathopoulos P, Kumar A, Nowak RJ, O’Connor K. Autoantibody-producing plasmablasts after B cell depletion identified in muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis. JCI Insight 2017, 2: e94263. PMID: 28878127, PMCID: PMC5621905, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.94263.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnimalsAutoantibodiesB-LymphocytesCohort StudiesFemaleHumansImmunologic FactorsLymphocyte DepletionMaleMiceMiddle AgedMyasthenia GravisReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesReceptors, CholinergicRecurrenceRemission InductionRituximabTumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7ConceptsB-cell depletionMuSK-MG patientsMyasthenia gravisCell depletionMG patientsAutoantibody productionDisease relapseB cellsB-cell-mediated autoimmune disordersMuscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravisAntigen-driven affinity maturationCell-mediated autoimmune disordersMuscle-specific tyrosine kinaseAChR myasthenia gravisAutoantibody-producing plasmablastsMuSK myasthenia gravisRituximab-induced remissionSustained clinical improvementB cell compartmentMuSK autoantibodiesClinical improvementPathogenic autoantibodiesSuch relapsesSerum autoantibodiesClinical features
2013
Serum autoantibodies to myelin peptides distinguish acute disseminated encephalomyelitis from relapsing– remitting multiple sclerosis
Van Haren K, Tomooka BH, Kidd BA, Banwell B, Bar-Or A, Chitnis T, Tenembaum SN, Pohl D, Rostasy K, Dale RC, O’Connor K, Hafler DA, Steinman L, Robinson WH. Serum autoantibodies to myelin peptides distinguish acute disseminated encephalomyelitis from relapsing– remitting multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2013, 19: 1726-1733. PMID: 23612879, PMCID: PMC4411183, DOI: 10.1177/1352458513485653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute disseminated encephalomyelitisMyelin basic proteinDisseminated encephalomyelitisMyelin peptidesMultiple sclerosisIgM autoantibodiesIsotype-specific secondary antibodiesPediatric acute disseminated encephalomyelitisRelapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisPediatric multiple sclerosisProteolipid proteinMicroarrays softwareBasic proteinMyelin antigensLaboratory featuresPeptide autoantibodiesMS seraSerum autoantibodiesIgG autoantibodiesAutoantibody biomarkersSerum IgGOligodendrocyte-specific proteinAutoantibody reactivityAdult MSAutoantibodies
2009
Epstein–Barr virus infection is not a characteristic feature of multiple sclerosis brain
Willis SN, Stadelmann C, Rodig SJ, Caron T, Gattenloehner S, Mallozzi SS, Roughan JE, Almendinger SE, Blewett MM, Brück W, Hafler DA, O’Connor K. Epstein–Barr virus infection is not a characteristic feature of multiple sclerosis brain. Brain 2009, 132: 3318-3328. PMID: 19638446, PMCID: PMC2792367, DOI: 10.1093/brain/awp200.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultiple sclerosis brainEpstein-Barr virus infectionEBV infectionWhite matter lesionsMultiple sclerosisCentral nervous systemMatter lesionsVirus infectionSecond cohortEBV infected cellsB cell infiltrationB cell aggregatesInflammatory demyelinating diseaseB-cell infiltratesReal-time polymerase chain reaction methodologyCNS immunopathologyCNS lymphomaDemyelinating diseaseCell infiltrateSitu hybridizationCell infiltrationLarge cohortBrain pathologyNervous systemPolymerase chain reaction methodology