We have explored the beneficial effects of retinoic acid (RA) on B cells from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. When co-stimulated via the toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR9 and RP105, MS B cells secreted less of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) compared to B cells from healthy controls. Importantly, RA enhanced the secretion of IL-10 by MS-derived B cells without affecting the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. RA revealed the same ability to induce IL-10 as did interferon-β-1b (IFN-β-1b), and B-cells from patients treated with glatiramer acetate or IFN-β-1b still displayed the beneficial effects of RA on the IL-10/TNF-α ratio.
Keywords: B cells; IL-10; Multiple sclerosis; Retinoic acid; TLR; TNF-α.
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