Article produced by the Neuroimmunology group at PUCRS and researchers at InsCer was published in the Views and Reviews section of the latest edition of the renowned journal Neurology, and is the cover of the publication this week. Neurologists Bruna Klein da Costa, Douglas Sato, Jefferson Becker and Giordani dos Passos led the research in collaboration with Dr. Amit Bar-Or, from the University of Pennsylvania, in the United States.

Entitled “Unraveling B lymphocytes in CNS inflammatory diseases: Distinct mechanisms and treatment targets”, the article addresses the immunological mechanisms involved in responding to treatments targeting B lymphocytes in Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica and Autoimmune Encephalitis. “We reviewed aspects related to the normal maturation of this type of cell and the development of autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system when intrinsic control mechanisms fail,” explains Klein.

In recent years, new treatments for these diseases have shown effectiveness and possibly a large part of their therapeutic effect is due to the action on B lymphocytes. “Therefore, it is important to know the generating mechanisms of autoimmunity and how medications can act to control diseases so that we can indicate the best options for each patient ”, concludes neurologist Bruna Klein.