Biological Features of CD5+CD19+B1 Cell and Natural IgM (VH4-34) in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia vs. Multiple Sclerosis

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the clonal expansion of mature CD5+ B cells and the most common lymphoproliferative disease in adults (B1-CLL). B1 cells' anti-inflammatory effects include the production of natural IgM (nIgM) by the spleen and bone marrow, decreased inflammatory cytokines as a primary response to maintaining tissue homeostasis, and enhanced release of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta).We used the flow cytometry technique in peripheral blood from patients with CLL and multiple sclerosis (MS) to immunophenotype B cells and their subpopulations. Whole blood from CLL and MS patients, as well as healthy controls, was used to detect nIgM using the VH4-34 gene copy number and real-time RT-PCR.We found that the proportion of CD5+ B cells was significantly lower in MS patients than in the control group and that CD5+ B lymphocytes were significantly higher in CLL patients than in the control group. Compared to the control group, CLL patients had significantly higher levels of the VH4-34 gene copy number. On the contrary, MS patients had significantly lower VH4-34 gene copy number levels compared to the control group.As the number of antibodies in CLL patients increases due to the high number of B1 cells, we propose a new way to treat MS by extracting this natural antibody from the sera of CLL patients and injecting it into MS patients.

Automated summary

This study examines the phenotypic characteristics of B cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The proportion of CD5+ B cells is higher in CLL patients and lower in MS patients compared to the control group. CLL patients also have higher levels of VH4-34 gene copy number, while MS patients have lower levels. This research suggests a new way to treat MS by extracting natural antibodies from CLL patients and injecting them into MS patients.