Natalizumab disproportionately increases circulating pre-B and B cells in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Natalizumab, a humanized anti-α4 integrin monoclonal antibody, reduces relapses and disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Whereas its presumed mode of action is inhibition of T cell/monocyte entry into the brain, little is known about its specific effect on B cells, which are increasingly recognized to participate in MS pathogenesis.