{
  "id": 11255063,
  "title": "Double-Negative B Cell Expansion Defines a Relapse-Prone Immunophenotype in Newly Diagnosed Giant Cell Arteritis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/double-negative-b-cell-expansion-defines-a-relapse-prone",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.25.754436v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is typically thought to be driven by T cells, but it also exhibits vascular B/plasma-cell infiltrates and altered circulating B-cell homeostasis, indicating a potential role for B cells in its pathogenesis. Relapse is a common occurrence in newly diagnosed GCA (nGCA), but reliable predictive biomarkers are still lacking. This study aimed to examine the B-cell subpopulations in nGCA samples and determine their relationship with the risk of relapse within a 12-month period.\n\nThe research involved a total of 102 patients with nGCA and 102 control participants matched for sex and age. Out of the 102 nGCA patients, 55 had follow-up data available after 12 months, with 34 experiencing relapse and 21 remaining relapse-free. The study utilized multiparametric flow cytometry to analyze the baseline B-cell composition in both groups.\n\nThe results showed that non-relapsing patients exhibited reduced total CD19+ B-cell counts and a decrease in most B-cell subsets, while maintaining comparable levels of CD27-IgD-double-negative (DN) B-cells to those in the control group. On the other hand, relapsing patients had total B-cell numbers above the control range, despite a reduction in memory compartment sizes. This difference was driven by expanded naive and DN B-cell populations, coupled with preserved plasmablast and transitional B-cell counts.\n\nDuring the 6-month follow-up, only non-relapsing patients showed an increase in total B-cell counts. The DN B-cell subtype showed the most significant divergence between the two groups and independently predicted the occurrence of relapse. Additionally, DN B-cell counts correlated with the levels of circulating T peripheral helper cells, suggesting the involvement of extrafollicular immune pathway activation in the disease process.\n\nConclusion: The study demonstrates that nGCA is characterized by distinct disturbances in B-cell homeostasis, which may vary depending on the disease course. The expansion of the DN B-cell compartment serves as a marker for patients at higher risk of relapse, providing a clinically relevant biomarker for early risk stratification.",
  "summary": "Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA), traditionally considered T cell-driven, exhibits vascular B/plasma-cell infiltrates and altered circulating B-cell homeostasis, suggesting a pathogenic role for B cells. Relapse is common in newly diagnosed GCA (nGCA), yet predictive biomarkers remain elusive. Objective: To characterize circulating B-cell subpopulations in nGCA and assess their association…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}