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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with the B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We have previously reported that HCV(+)MC(+) patients have clonal expansions of hypermutated, rheumatoid factor-bearing marginal zone-like IgM(+)CD27(+) peripheral B cells using the V(H)1-69 gene. Here we coupled transcriptional profiling with immunophenotypic and functional studies to ascertain these cells' role in MC pathogenesis. Despite their fundamental role in MC disease, these B cells have overall transcriptional features of anergy and apoptosis instead of neoplastic transformation. Highly up-regulated genes include SOX5, CD11C, galectin-1, and FGR, similar to a previously described FCRL4(+) memory B-cell subset and to an "exhausted," anergic CD21(low) memory B-cell subset in HIV(+) patients. Moreover, HCV(+)MC(+) patients' clonal peripheral B cells are enriched with CD21(low), CD11c(+), FCRL4(high), IL-4R(low) memory B cells. In contrast to the functional, rheumatoid factor-secreting CD27(+)CD21(high) subset, the CD27(+)CD21(low) subpopulation exhibits decreased calcium mobilization and does not efficiently differentiate into rheumatoid factor-secreting plasmablasts, suggesting that a large proportion of HCV(+)MC(+) patients' clonally expanded peripheral B cells is prone to anergy and/or apoptosis. Down-regulation of multiple activation pathways may represent a homeostatic mechanism attenuating otherwise uncontrolled stimulation of circulating HCV-containing immune complexes.

Original publication

DOI

10.1182/blood-2010-10-312942

Type

Journal article

Journal

Blood

Publication Date

19/05/2011

Volume

117

Pages

5425 - 5437

Keywords

Adult, Apoptosis, B-Lymphocyte Subsets, CD11c Antigen, Clonal Anergy, Cryoglobulinemia, Female, Gene Expression Profiling, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Humans, Immunoglobulin M, Immunologic Memory, Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Middle Aged, Receptors, Complement 3d, Receptors, Fc, Rheumatoid Factor, Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7