2023
Precision targeting of autoantigen-specific B cells in muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis with chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells
Oh S, Mao X, Manfredo-Vieira S, Lee J, Patel D, Choi E, Alvarado A, Cottman-Thomas E, Maseda D, Tsao P, Ellebrecht C, Khella S, Richman D, O’Connor K, Herzberg U, Binder G, Milone M, Basu S, Payne A. Precision targeting of autoantigen-specific B cells in muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis with chimeric autoantibody receptor T cells. Nature Biotechnology 2023, 41: 1229-1238. PMID: 36658341, PMCID: PMC10354218, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01637-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMuscle‐specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravisReceptor T cellsB cellsT cellsMyasthenia gravisChimeric autoantibody receptor T cellsCD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cellsAutoantigen-specific B cellsChimeric antigen receptor T cellsAntigen receptor T cellsAnti-MuSK antibodiesB-cell depletionTotal IgG levelsClinical study designInvestigational new drug applicationChronic immunosuppressionIgG levelsMuscle weaknessAutoimmune diseasesCell depletionCurrent therapiesSimilar efficacyCytolytic activityMouse modelNew drug applications
2020
CD4+ follicular regulatory T cells optimize the influenza virus–specific B cell response
Lu Y, Jiang R, Freyn AW, Wang J, Strohmeier S, Lederer K, Locci M, Zhao H, Angeletti D, O’Connor K, Kleinstein SH, Nachbagauer R, Craft J. CD4+ follicular regulatory T cells optimize the influenza virus–specific B cell response. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2020, 218: e20200547. PMID: 33326020, PMCID: PMC7748821, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20200547.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntibody FormationAntigensB-LymphocytesCD4 AntigensDisease Models, AnimalEpitopesForkhead Transcription FactorsGerminal CenterHumansImmunityImmunologic MemoryInfluenza, HumanInfluenzavirus BIntegrasesMice, Inbred C57BLOrthomyxoviridae InfectionsReceptors, Antigen, B-CellSpecies SpecificityT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryVaccinationConceptsB cell responsesGerminal center B cell responsesFollicular regulatory T cellsRegulatory T cellsTfr cellsCell responsesT cellsViral challengeHumoral memoryVirus-specific B cell responsesAntigen-specific B cell responsesFollicular helper T cellsHA stalk regionHelper T cellsInfluenza virus infectionGerminal center developmentAntibody responsePlasma cellsVirus infectionImmunization modelAntibody productionBCR repertoireInfluenza virusRepeated exposureInfluenza virus glycoproteinsThe B cell immunobiology that underlies CNS autoantibody-mediated diseases
Sun B, Ramberger M, O’Connor K, Bashford-Rogers RJM, Irani SR. The B cell immunobiology that underlies CNS autoantibody-mediated diseases. Nature Reviews Neurology 2020, 16: 481-492. PMID: 32724223, PMCID: PMC9364389, DOI: 10.1038/s41582-020-0381-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutoantigen-specific B cellsB cellsPathogenic autoantibodiesB cell tolerance checkpointsAutoantibody-mediated diseasesB cell immunobiologyLong-term morbidityHigher serum levelsCirculation of patientsSource of autoantibodiesSite of pathologyB-cell lineageClinical relapseAvailable medicationsSerum levelsIntrathecal synthesisCNS diseaseTolerance checkpointsPlasma cellsTherapeutic effectCerebrospinal fluidGerminal centersAutoantibodiesDiseasePatientsAutoimmune Pathology in Myasthenia Gravis Disease Subtypes Is Governed by Divergent Mechanisms of Immunopathology
Fichtner ML, Jiang R, Bourke A, Nowak RJ, O’Connor K. Autoimmune Pathology in Myasthenia Gravis Disease Subtypes Is Governed by Divergent Mechanisms of Immunopathology. Frontiers In Immunology 2020, 11: 776. PMID: 32547535, PMCID: PMC7274207, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00776.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLipoprotein receptor-related protein 4Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathyMuSK myasthenia gravisMyasthenia gravisDisease subtypesPathogenic autoantibodiesNeuromyelitis opticaPemphigus vulgarisFab-arm exchangeNeuromuscular junctionAChR myasthenia gravisDistinct immune mechanismsInflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathyAutoimmune myasthenia gravisContribution of complementMuscle-specific kinaseNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsSubtype of diseaseDemyelinating polyneuropathyMG subtypesMG patientsAutoantibody productionClinical benefitAutoimmune diseasesAutoimmune pathology
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
2014
Interleukin-10+ Regulatory B Cells Arise Within Antigen-Experienced CD40+ B Cells to Maintain Tolerance to Islet Autoantigens
Kleffel S, Vergani A, Tezza S, Nasr M, Niewczas MA, Wong S, Bassi R, D’Addio F, Schatton T, Abdi R, Atkinson M, Sayegh MH, Wen L, Wasserfall CH, O’Connor K, Fiorina P. Interleukin-10+ Regulatory B Cells Arise Within Antigen-Experienced CD40+ B Cells to Maintain Tolerance to Islet Autoantigens. Diabetes 2014, 64: 158-171. PMID: 25187361, PMCID: PMC4274804, DOI: 10.2337/db13-1639.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIslet autoantigensB cellsT1D patientsInterleukin-10IL-10-producing B cellsHyperglycemic nonobese diabetic miceRegulatory B-cell responsesAutoreactive T cell responsesT cell-mediated responsesRole of BregsB-cell depletionRegulatory B cellsNonobese diabetic (NOD) miceNOD mouse modelT cell responsesB cell responsesType 1 diabetesB cell receptorAdoptive transferDiabetic miceAutoimmune diseasesHuman ILHyperglycemic miceMouse modelBregs
2012
Autoantibodies Produced at the Site of Tissue Damage Provide Evidence of Humoral Autoimmunity in Inclusion Body Myositis
Ray A, Amato AA, Bradshaw EM, Felice KJ, DiCapua DB, Goldstein JM, Lundberg IE, Nowak RJ, Ploegh HL, Spooner E, Wu Q, Willis SN, O’Connor K. Autoantibodies Produced at the Site of Tissue Damage Provide Evidence of Humoral Autoimmunity in Inclusion Body Myositis. PLOS ONE 2012, 7: e46709. PMID: 23071619, PMCID: PMC3465259, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046709.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInclusion body myositisHumoral immune responseImmune responsePlasma cellsTissue damageBody myositisAntibody-secreting plasma cellsCell linesSingle plasma cellsMajor intermediate filament proteinMuscle tissueIBM patientsHumoral autoimmunityInflammatory myopathiesHuman-derived cell linesIBM muscleMuscle tissue sectionsMuscle tissue homogenatesMuscle diseaseTissue homogenatesTissue sectionsIntermediate filament proteinsMyositisAutoantibodiesDisease
2005
Multiple sclerosis
Hafler DA, Slavik JM, Anderson DE, O'Connor KC, De Jager P, Baecher‐Allan C. Multiple sclerosis. Immunological Reviews 2005, 204: 208-231. PMID: 15790361, DOI: 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2005.00240.x.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsMultiple sclerosisT cellsB cellsImmunopathology of MSCentral nervous system white matterNervous system white matterRegulatory T cellsHallmark of inflammationImmunosuppressive therapyAutoimmune processImmunomodulatory therapeuticsAnimal modelsMS researchWhite matterDisease pathologyClonal expansionDiseaseMajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) genesMolecular pathologyRNA expressionSclerosisInflammationTherapyPathologyComplex genetic diseases