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 featuresDurability of the Rituximab Response in Acetylcholine Receptor Autoantibody–Positive Myasthenia Gravis
Robeson KR, Kumar A, Keung B, DiCapua DB, Grodinsky E, Patwa HS, Stathopoulos PA, Goldstein JM, O’Connor K, Nowak RJ. Durability of the Rituximab Response in Acetylcholine Receptor Autoantibody–Positive Myasthenia Gravis. JAMA Neurology 2017, 74: 60-66. PMID: 27893014, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.4190.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDurability of responseMyasthenia gravisRituximab treatmentAnti-AChR antibody levelsB cell-targeted therapiesLong-term clinical responseRetrospective case series studyTreatment of MGEvidence-based practice parametersLast rituximab treatmentRefractory myasthenia gravisSerum cytokine levelsComplete stable remissionSubset of patientsCase series studyMyasthenia Gravis FoundationMG clinicPharmacologic remissionRituximab cyclesSustained remissionAutoantibody levelsInflammatory markersRituximab therapyClinical improvementClinical response
2010
A unique antibody gene signature is prevalent in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis
Ligocki AJ, Lovato L, Xiang D, Guidry P, Scheuermann RH, Willis SN, Almendinger S, Racke MK, Frohman EM, Hafler DA, O'Connor KC, Monson NL. A unique antibody gene signature is prevalent in the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Neuroimmunology 2010, 226: 192-193. PMID: 20655601, PMCID: PMC2937103, DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.06.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultiple sclerosisB cellsGene signatureMS brain tissueCSF of patientsCNS tissue samplesEnriched B cellsCentral nervous systemB cell receptorMS brainsTissue injuryNervous systemBrain tissueCell receptorTissue samplesSclerosisPatientsCSFUnique accumulationCellsSomatic hypermutationInjuryBrainReceptors
2007
A Local Antigen-Driven Humoral Response Is Present in the Inflammatory Myopathies
Bradshaw EM, Orihuela A, McArdel SL, Salajegheh M, Amato AA, Hafler DA, Greenberg SA, O’Connor K. A Local Antigen-Driven Humoral Response Is Present in the Inflammatory Myopathies. The Journal Of Immunology 2007, 178: 547-556. PMID: 17182595, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.1.547.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAmino Acid SequenceAntibody FormationAutoantigensB-Lymphocyte SubsetsFemaleGenes, Immunoglobulin Heavy ChainHumansImmunoglobulin Switch RegionImmunoglobulin Variable RegionMaleMicrodissectionMiddle AgedMolecular Sequence DataMutationMyocardiumMyositisReceptors, Antigen, B-CellSyndecan-1Transcription, GeneticConceptsInclusion body myositisLaser capture microdissectionBody myositisCapture microdissectionInflammatory myopathiesMuscle tissueInsertions/deletionsT cell-mediated diseaseGene sequencesCell-mediated diseaseGene transcriptsInflamed muscle tissueAg-specific responsesAg receptorB cell maturationPlasma cell populationPutative autoimmune disordersControl muscle tissueSignificant somatic mutationsIndividual cellsVariable region gene sequencesOligoclonal expansionInflammatory infiltrateSomatic mutationsMuscle weakness