Increased expression of T-bet in circulating B cells from a patient with multiple sclerosis and celiac disease

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and celiac disease (CD) are considered to be T-cell–mediated autoimmune diseases. We describe a woman affected by a relapsing-remitting demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and occult CD (MS-CD), who showed during neurologic exacerbations a strong increased expression of T-bet, the key transcription factor for the development of Th1 cells, in circulating T, B cells and monocytes. Conversely, no difference of T-bet expression was observed in B cells from relapsing-remitting MS patients, either in relapse or in remission, and in controls. In the MS-CD patient, the interaction between MS- and CD-related inflammatory processes may result in an amplification of Th1 immune response.