Adaptive immunity cells are differentially distributed in the peripheral blood of glycine receptor antibody-positive patients with focal epilepsy of unknown cause

Abstract

AimGlycine receptor (GlyR) autoantibodies (Ab) have been recently detected in epilepsy patients. Our study aimed to investigate the peripheral blood distribution of B and T cell subgroups responsible for antibody production to find clues supporting the distinct organization of adaptive immunity in focal epilepsy of unknown cause (FEUC). MethodSeven GlyR-Ab positive and 15 GlyR-Ab negative FEUC patients and 25 age-sex matched healthy individuals were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and immunophenotyped by flow cytometry. ResultsThere were no significant differences between CD19+ B, CD3+ T, CD4+ helper T, CD8+ cytotoxic T, and CD19+CD24++CD38++ regulatory B cell ratios among the groups. GlyR-Ab negative epilepsy patients had significantly higher CD19+IgD+CD27− naive B cells and GlyR-Ab positive patients showed reduced percentages of CD19+CD38+CD138+ plasma cells than healthy controls. By contrast, GlyR-Ab positive patients exhibited significantly increased CD3+CD4+CD25highregulatory T (Treg) cells and CD3+CD4+CD25highCD127low/- Treg cells and relatively increased CD19+IgD-CD27+ memory B cells without attaining statistical significance. ConclusionThe increase of Tregs, which are capable of suppressing B cells, maybe a compensating countermeasure to prevent the conversion of effector B cell subgroups. Thus, our findings lend support to the involvement of adaptive immunity in focal epilepsy of unknown cause.