Unique B cell responses in B cell-dependent and B cell-independent EAE.

Previous studies characterized B cell-dependent and B cell-independent models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in C57BL/6 mice. To further characterize the B cell response generated in these two models, the serum antibody response and the B cell surface immunoglobulin (Ig) repertoire were analyzed following immunization of wild-type C57BL/6 mice with either recombinant myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG; B cell-dependent EAE) or the encephalitogenic MOG(35-55) peptide (B cell-independent EAE). Plasma ELISA revealed responses to unique linear epitopes of MOG following immunization with recombinant MOG that were absent in MOG(35-55)-immunized animals. B cell repertoire analysis by RT-PCR identified a unique response restricted to 7183 Ig heavy chain variable gene family in mice immunized with recombinant MOG that was not observed in MOG(35-55)-immunized mice. These insights could aid in the identification of the relevant B cell populations important to the pathogenesis of B cell-dependent EAE and in the mechanisms by which these B cell populations contribute to disease.