Gray matter and B cells

Dear readers

There seems to be some confusion on the role of B cells in progressive MS and the link between B cells and grey matter pathology. I have made several posts on this in the past. I suggest you re-read these if you have not done so already and then I will collate all the comments and try and summarise the research findings to date in an short overview.

Multiple Sclerosis Research: Grey Matter (1) - Cortical demyelination ...
05 Jun 2011
Methods: In this study specialist MS pathologists analysed global brain involvement in MS focusing on the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and the cortex (grey matter). Findings: (1) New and active focal inflammatory ...

Multiple Sclerosis Research: Grey Matter (2) - Cortical lesions and ...
05 Jun 2011
In this study the investigators were able to relate cortical or grey matter lesions and tissue loss or atrophy to cognitive impairment in patients with RRMS. "This study adds to the growing body of evidence that grey matter ...

Multiple Sclerosis Research: Grey Matter (3) - Atrophy mainly affects ...
05 Jun 2011
"This and other studies show that grey matter involvement is there from the start. I use this as argument for aggressive early treatment. It is better to protect the brain, particularly the grey matter, than to compensate for the ...

Multiple Sclerosis Research: Grey matter (4) - Meningeal B-cell ...
06 Jun 2011
The B cell that make the antibodies are found in structures called "ectopic lymphoid follicle-like structures" in the coverings of the brain and spinal cord; the covering are called the meninges. These ectopic follicles are not ...

Multiple Sclerosis Research: Grey Matter (5) & B Cells: Baminercept ...
07 Jun 2011
The immune system forms and maintains the ectopic B-cell follicles in the brain & spinal cord by producing a cocktail of immune messengers called cytokines. One of these messengers is called lymphotoxin; if you inhibit or ...

Multiple Sclerosis Research: Grey Matter (6) and B cells ...
08 Jun 2011
This study is also targeting the B cell within the central nervous system (CNS) in the hope of disrupting the ectopic B cell follicles and thereby trying to stop progressive cortical or grey matter disease progression. Rituximab is a ...