Characterization of Autoreactive b Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Diseases and Immune Deficiencies

Characterization of Autoreactive b Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Diseases and Immune Deficiencies

Autoimmune diseases (AID), whether systemic or organ-specific, affect approximately one in ten people, and their prevalence continues to increase. Many AIDs are linked to the emergence of autoreactive B cells (BCs) directed against components of the self. In healthy individuals, these autoreactive B cells are counter-selected or regulated before reaching the antibody-secreting cell compartment. However, in predisposed individuals, a breakdown in B cell tolerance can occur, leading to the formation of autoantibodies with devastating consequences, such as the emergence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis. B-cell depletion is often beneficial in these patients, but paradoxically, therapies targeting B cells are not always effective. Furthermore, B cell depletion via LB-specific antibodies (anti-CD20) or treatment with CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T) leads to complete and prolonged depression of the entire B compartment without targeting the LB population responsible for the onset of the disease. To date, two pitfalls in studies of human autoreactive LBs often complicate the interpretation of results:

i) the difficulty of identifying autoreactive LBs among all LBs, ii) demonstrating the pathogenicity of autoreactive B lymphocytes when they can be identified individually. We propose to quantify and phenotype these autoreactive/pathogenic B cells using high-throughput flow cytometry in several clinical situations.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged between 18 and 70
• Patients for whom at least one of the following conditions has been confirmed:
• Systemic lupus erythematosus meeting the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria.
• Systemic scleroderma meeting the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria. ANCA-associated vasculitis according to the 2022 EULAR/ACR classification criteria.
• Antiphospholipid syndrome according to the 2023 ACR/EULAR criteria.
• Primary immunodeficiencies according to IUIS criteria.
• Patients capable of understanding the objectives of the research.
• Patients affiliated with a social security health insurance scheme (beneficiary or dependant).
• Patients who have signed and dated the informed consent form for non-identifying genetic testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusing to participate in the study
• Patient in a period of exclusion (determined by a previous or ongoing study) Inability to provide the subject with informed consent (in an emergency or immediate life-threatening situation, difficulties in understanding the subject, etc.)
• Patient under legal protection
• Patient under guardianship or conservatorship