Alterations on peripheral blood B-cell subpopulations in very early arthritis patients

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Abstract
Objective. To characterize circulating B-cell subpopulations of arthritis patients with Methods. Peripheral blood samples were collected from very early untreated polyarthritis patients, with Results. VERA patients have a lower percentage of total peripheral blood memory B cells (CD19+CD27+) and a significant decrease in the frequency of circulating pre-switch memory B cells (CD19+IgD+CD27+) as compared with controls. Therapy with corticosteroids or MTX was unable to restore the normal frequencies of these B-cell subpopulations. A significant decrease in peripheral pre-switch memory B cells is equally observed in other early arthritis patients. Furthermore, no significant differences are found in the frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in all patient groups. Conclusions. In very early polyarthritis patients, there is a reduction in circulating pre-switch memory B cells. The reasons that may account for this effect are still unknown. Short-term corticosteroids and MTX do not seem to have a direct effect on circulating B-cell subpopulations in VERA patients.

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