Short-lived plasma blasts are the main B cell effector subset during the course of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) with an unknown etiology. Although intrathecal IgG synthesis is a key feature of the disease, little is still known about the B cell response in the CNS of MS patients. Here, we analyzed the phenotype and kinetics of different B cell subsets in patients with MS, infectious (IND) and non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND). B cells were detected in the CSF of MS and IND patients, but were largely absent in NIND patients. In the CSF the majority of B cells had a phenotype of memory B cells and sho…