E. Eksioglu-demiralp et al., Phenotypic characteristics of B cells in Behcet's disease: Increased activity in B cell subsets, J RHEUMATOL, 26(4), 1999, pp. 826-832
Objective. Increased numbers of spontaneous Ig secreting B cells and elevat
ed immunoglobulin levels have been described in Behcet's disease (BD), in a
ddition to changes in numbers and activities of T cells, natural killer cel
ls, and monocyte-macrophages. We investigated other characteristics of B ce
lls in BD.
Methods. B lymphocyte subsets (CD19+CD5+, CD19+CD13+, CD19+CD28+, CD19+CD33
+, CD19+CD80+, CD5+CD19+CD45RA+, CD5+CD19+CD45RO+) were phenotypically eval
uated in 50 patients with ED, 80 healthy subjects, and 20 other patients wi
th rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); and sepsi
s.
Results. Although the B cell number (CD19+) was normal, CD13 and CD33 posit
ive B cells were more numerous in ED and sepsis compared to healthy control
s and patients with RA and SLE. The percentage of CD45RO positive B cells w
as higher in both ED and sepsis, while the percentage of CD80 positive B ce
lls was high only in ED. There was no increase in the CD5+CD19+ B cell subs
et, previously shown to be increased in several autoimmune diseases. Naive
(CD45RA) and memory (CD45RO) status of CD5+CD19+ and CD5-CD19+ B cells show
ed that CD45RA expression was higher in CD5+CD19+ B cells, whereas expressi
on of both CD45RA and CD45RO was higher in the CD5-CD19+ B cell group compa
red with healthy controls.
Conclusion. Although the total B cell number was normal, increased levels o
f activated and memory B cell subsets suggest a modified B cell function in
BI, which may be related to a weak stimulus by an unknown external antigen
.