B cells play a role in most autoimmune conditions mostly due faulty immune tolerance, both central and peripheral, that should instead be meant to keep autoreactive cells at bay. In multiple sclerosis (MS) B cell aggregates located in the meninges and spinal cord seem to be an important factor that contributes to the compartmentalized CNS inflammation that is typical of this disease. Despite our incomplete knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying MS pathogenesis, great advances have been made in this field by research.
Rue Li, Kristina R. Patterson and Amit Bar-Or reviewed the most recent discoveries concerning the role of B cells in the pathogenesis and progression of the different forms of MS, an autoimmune, neurodegenerative condition featuring both uncontrolled peripheral and central inflammation, for which T cells are instead often considered the main culprit.