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The Differential Role of B Cells in Autoimmune Diseases: From Autoantibodies to Antigen Presentation

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 2562

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Neurology & Stroke, Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
Interests: neuroimmunology; multiple sclerosis; neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease; B cells; oncoimmunology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

B cells play multifaceted roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, extending far beyond their well-known function as producers of pathogenic autoantibodies. Recent advances highlight that B cells contribute not only through antibody secretion but also as potent antigen-presenting cells, influencing T cell activation and modulating immune responses. This Special Issue explores the spectrum of B cell activities in autoimmunity, delineating how factors such as B cell subtypes, cytokine secretion, and their interactions within tissue microenvironments shape disease onset and progression. The topics covered span a broad range of autoimmune diseases, from those encountered in internal medicine to neurological conditions, underscoring the central importance of B cells across clinical disciplines.

Dr. Markus C. Kowarik
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • autoantibodies
  • B cells
  • antigen presentation
  • B cell functions
  • autoimmunity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 908 KB  
Review
The Elusive B Cell Antigen in Multiple Sclerosis: Time to Rethink CNS B Cell Functions
by Florian Mailaender, Nicole Vasilenko, Maria P. Tieck, Sonja Schembecker and Markus C. Kowarik
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110771 - 5 Nov 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2329
Abstract
Although the pivotal role of B cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is well established, their precise functions in disease mechanisms remain incompletely understood. For decades, MS-related B cell research has focused on identifying B cell antigens that could induce pathogenic [...] Read more.
Although the pivotal role of B cells in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is well established, their precise functions in disease mechanisms remain incompletely understood. For decades, MS-related B cell research has focused on identifying B cell antigens that could induce pathogenic antibodies contributing to the initiation and maintenance of CNS lesion formation and inflammation. In this review, we conducted a systematic literature search to compile and critically assess proposed antigens with respect to their specificity for MS and the plausibility of findings across different publications. We identified 26 antigens in total. Among these, 15 antigens did not demonstrate high specificity for MS, 9 antigens yielded controversial or contradictory results, and 2 antigens may still be regarded as provisional at the time of our analysis. Based on these findings, a primarily antibody-mediated mechanism driving initial lesion formation is not supported by current evidence, although it cannot be excluded entirely. Instead, a secondary immune response to CNS tissue damage—characterized by local antibody production and alternative B cell functions such as antigen presentation, cytokine secretion and cell-to-cell communication—appears more plausible. Taken together, our review highlights the necessity of expanding B cell–oriented MS research beyond antibody production to include a broader spectrum of B cell functions. Full article
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