Analysis of coding and non-coding transcriptome of peripheral B cells reveals an altered interferon response factor (IRF)-1 pathway in multiple sclerosis patients

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.09.005
• Publication Date: 2018-09-15T23:07:29Z
• Authors: Viviana Annibali; Renato Umeton; Antonia Palermo; Martina Severa; Marilena Paola Etna; Simona Giglio; Silvia Romano; Michela Ferraldeschi; Maria Chiara Busc...; Andrea Vecchione; Anita Annese; Claudia Policano; Rosella Mechelli; Raffaella Pizzola...; Arianna Fornasiero; Daniela Francesca...; Gisella Guerrera; Luca Battistini; Eliana Marina Coccia; Marco Salvetti; Giovanni Ristori
• Keywords: IRF1

Several evidences emphasize B-cell pathogenic roles in multiple sclerosis (MS). We performed transcriptome analyses on peripheral B cells from therapy-free patients and age/sex-matched controls. Down-regulation of two transcripts (interferon response factor 1-IRF1, and C-X-C motif chemokine 10-CXCL10), belonging to the same pathway, was validated by RT-PCR in 26 patients and 21 controls. IRF1 and CXCL10 transcripts share potential seeding sequences for hsa-miR-424, that resulted up-regulated in MS patients. We confirmed this interaction and its functional effect by transfection experiments. Consistent findings indicate down-regulation of IRF1/CXCL10 axis, that may plausibly contribute to a pro-survival status of B cells in MS.