TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gernert, Michael
A1  - Tony, Hans-Peter
A1  - Schwaneck, Eva Christina
A1  - Gadeholt, Ottar
A1  - Schmalzing, Marc
T1  - Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in systemic sclerosis induces long-lasting changes in B cell homeostasis toward an anti-inflammatory B cell cytokine pattern
JF  - Arthritis Research & Therapy
N2  - Background
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is performed in patients with aggressive forms of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The profile of B cell reconstitution after aHSCT is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate changes of B cell subsets and cytokine production of B cells in patients with SSc after aHSCT.

Methods
Peripheral blood of six patients with SSc was collected at defined intervals up to 16 months after aHSCT. Immunophenotyping was performed, and B cell function was determined by measuring cytokine secretion in supernatants of stimulated B cell cultures.

Results
Within 1 month after aHSCT, a peak in the percentage of CD38\(^{++}\)/CD10\(^+\)/IgD\(^+\) transitional B cells and CD38\(^{++}\)/CD27\(^{++}\)/IgD\(^−\) plasmablasts was detected. Long-term changes persisted up to 14 months after aHSCT and showed an increased percentage of total B cells; the absolute B cell number did not change significantly. Within the B cell compartment, an increased CD27/IgD\(^+\) naïve B cell percentage was found whereas decreased percentages of CD27\(^+\)/IgD\(^+\) pre-switched memory, CD27\(^+\)/IgD\(^−\)  post-switched memory, and CD27\(^−\) /IgD\(^−\) double-negative B cells were seen after aHSCT. Cytokine secretion in B cell cultures showed significantly increased IL-10 concentrations 13 to 16 months after aHSCT.

Conclusion
A changed composition of the B cell compartment is present for up to 14 months after aHSCT indicating positive persisting effects of aHSCT on B cell homeostasis. The cytokine secretion profile of B cells changes in the long term and shows an increased production of the immune regulatory cytokine IL-10 after aHSCT. These findings might promote the clinical improvements after aHSCT in SSc patients.
KW  - Systemic sclerosis
KW  - B cells
KW  - Memory B cells
KW  - naïve B cells
KW  - Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
KW  - Interleukin-10
Y1  - 2019
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201004
VL  - 21
ER  -