Enhanced Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Activity in Peripheral Blood B Lymphocytes From Patients With Autoimmune Disease

Abstract

These data indicate that autoimmune disease in humans is characterized by enhanced BTK activity, which is linked not only to autoantibody formation but also to T cell activity.

Attenuation of Follicular Helper T Cell–Dependent B Cell Hyperactivity by Abatacept Treatment in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome

“…B cell hyperactivity is a prominent feature of primary SS, reflected by hypergammaglobulinemia and autoantibody production, among others (2). Consistent with this notion, we showed that B cells from primary SS patients, including antigen-inexperienced naive B cells, express elevated levels of the B cell receptor signaling molecule Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) (3). Elevated BTK levels have been linked to T cell-mediated autoimmune pathology in both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary SS, indicating that there is a proinflammatory feedback loop between B cells and CD41 T cells (3).…”

The value of rituximab treatment in primary Sjögren's syndrome

“…Dysfunction of exocrine glands is accompanied by periductal mononuclear infiltration of these glands, mainly by CD4 + T cells and B cells. Involvement of B cells in pSS pathogenesis is further illustrated by the presence of autoantibodies directed against SS-A/Ro and/or SS-B/La, elevated levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated levels of Bruton's tyrosine kinase in B cells and a significantly increased risk of Non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma, predominantly mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma [1,2].…”

Flow cytometry assessment of intracellular BTK expression

“…We read with great interest the original article "Increased expression of Bruton's tyrosine kinase in peripheral blood is associated with lupus nephritis" recently published in Clinical Rheumatology (1). In this paper, Kong 2017) evaluated BTK expression in B-cells from healthy controls, rheumatoid arthritis patients, and primary Sj€ ogren's syndrome patients, where they showed that BTK protein expression correlated with BTK phosphorylation and also that BKT levels were enhanced in most patients with autoimmune diseases diseases (4).…”