RNA sequencing of purified B cells and monocytes from peripheral blood of healthy donors and multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell-mediated demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system causing neurological deficits with substantial disability. It is known that the activation of T cells depends on the activating signals from antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including peptide-MHC complex and costimulatory molecules. Furthermore, treatments targeting B cells by monoclonal antibody have already been proved to significantly slow down the progression of disease in MS patients. Moreover, the MHC (HLA in humans) region, and particularly the DR15 haplotype, are well known as the major genetic-susceptibility determinants in MS. Therefore, studying of APCs, especially DR15 positive samples, from healthy donor and MS patients would expand our understanding of the roles of APCs and DR15 in the pathogenesis of MS.