The anti-TNF medication reduced the percentage of memory B cells in the lymph tissue by about 40 percent in patients. The patients had one-quarter the number of germinal centres as other arthritis patients and the germinal centres were smaller and less organized.
Sanz team found out that the anti-TNF compounds decrease the number of faulty B cells by disrupting the formation of the network of Follicular dendritic cells that binds together the germinal centers.
This pioneering study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal discovers how anti-TNF compounds affect B cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Source-Medindia
SPH/M