# Contribution of plasmablasts in the conversion of transverse myelitis to multiple sclerosis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $684,711

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) patients experiencing their first neurological clinical episode related to Central
Nervous System (CNS) inflammation represent a unique opportunity to study the earliest immunological events
associated with CNS inflammation prior to treatment initiation. Our laboratory has acquired the largest human
sample repository of CIS patients experiencing their first clinical episode. Our preliminary data using state-of-
the-art cellular and genetic phenotyping demonstrate extensive B cell dysregulation within our untreated, CIS
cohort compared to controls including an expanded population of a B cell subtype called CD27high plasmablasts
in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood at the time of their first documented clinical attack. In fact,
those patients with CD27high plasmablast expansion at the time of their first clinical attack were the only ones
who had documented exacerbations over the next two years. In addition, circulating CD27high plasmablasts
utilizing particular antibody genes tend to produce antibodies that bind neuronal antigens. These findings have
prompted us to question whether CD27high plasmablasts are involved in the autoreactivity associated with this
subset of CIS patients at high risk to convert to MS at the time of their first documented clinical attack. We are
also investigating whether Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) patients, who display CNS inflammation
similar to CIS patients but without clinical symptoms also exhibit expansion of CD27high plasmablasts that
produce anti-neuronal antibodies. The focus of this project will facilitate new mechanistic insights into the
contribution of CD27high plasmablasts in early CNS inflammation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10132408
- **Project number:** 5R01NS102417-04
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** NANCY L MONSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $684,711
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10132408

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10132408, Contribution of plasmablasts in the conversion of transverse myelitis to multiple sclerosis (5R01NS102417-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10132408. Licensed CC0.

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