ACTRIMS 2021 | B-cells in the pathogenesis of MS
Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, shares the current understanding of the role of B-cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of anti-CD20 therapies that selectively target B-cells in MS has shed light on their influence. While the role of central nervous system (CNS) antibodies in MS pathogenesis has long been recognized, there is a growing understanding of the non-antibody dependent functions of B-cells in this context. B-cells appear to be a valuable target in MS as evidence suggests that abnormal pro-inflammatory B-cells can overstimulate pro-inflammatory peripheral immune cells, leading to relapse upon CNS infiltration, as well as contribute to non-relapsing progressive disease when residing in the CNS. This interview took place during the ACTRIMS Forum 2021.
Disclosures
Dr. Bar-Or has participated as a speaker in meetings sponsored by and received consulting fees and/or grant support from: Accure, Atara Biotherapeutics, Biogen, BMS/Celgene/Receptos, GlaxoSmithKline, Gossamer, Janssen/Actelion, Medimmune, Merck/EMD Serono, Novartis, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi-Genzyme.
Dr. Bar-Or receives research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), The National MS Society (NMSS), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Foundation and Melissa and Paul Anderson Chair in Neuroinflammation.
Dr. Bar-Or serves on the: Board of Directors for Americas Committee in Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS); Education Committee for the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS); Steering Committee of the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN); President, International Society for Neuroimmunology (ISNI).
