Tomoko Okamoto

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that a B-cell subpopulation, exhibiting the CD19intCD27highCD38highCD180− phenotype, is selectively increased in the peripheral blood of NMO patients and that anti-AQP4 antibodies are mainly produced by these cells in the blood of these patients.

TL;DR: This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with NMO, TCZ reduces relapse rate, neuropathic pain, and fatigue, and Class III evidence that Interleukin-6 receptor blockade is a promising therapeutic option for NMO.

TL;DR: It is reported that CCR2+CCR5+ T cells constitute a unique population selectively enriched in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients during relapse but not in patients with other neurologic diseases, and it is proposed that autoimmune CCR1+CCr5+ CCR6− Th1 cells play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS.

TL;DR: It is demonstrated that CD138+HLA-DR+ plasmablasts, a subset of IgG-producing cells, are increased in the peripheral blood and are enriched among the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocytes during the relapse of neuromyelitis optica.

TL;DR: The frequencies of each B-cell population in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were greatly reduced 2 weeks after starting fingolimod treatment, and a significant reduction in activated memory B cells (CD38int-high), particularly those expressing Ki-67, a marker of cell proliferation.