The role of B1 B cells in neurologic disorders

Faculty Development Competitive Research Grant Program (General) 2024-2026

We recently found that interaction of B1a B cells with neuronal lipid rafts (NLR) play an important role in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). B1a B cells were also found in the central nervous system of mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI) where they likely play an important role in repair. To our knowledge, we have discovered for the first time the direct activation of B1a B cells by NLR, which would give us unique opportunity to understand antigen specificity of B1a B cell that promote central nervous system repair. Thus, our study provides a new concept related to the role of B1a B cells in the pathogenesis of MS and TBI. The results from these studies may be useful for the development of new therapies of MS and TBI. It is also possible to use artificial (model) lipid rafts (MLR) to specifically activate B1 B cells. In addition, B1a-derived antibodies have therapeutic and diagnostic potential for MS and TBI.