Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure include in vitro tests to detect clotting factor-specific antibodies produced by B cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with haemophilia that develop resistance to substitution therapy. Additional embodiments include therapeutic methods for treating patients with haemophilia who have been identified at risk of developing B cell mediated resistance to clotting factor-reconstitution (or substitution) therapy, or have developed resistance to such therapy, by selectively inactivating the B cells that produce clotting factor-specific antibodies, and monitoring the efficiency of the latter treatment by measuring the residual clotting factor-specific B cells in these subjects.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure include methods for detecting autoimmune diseases by detecting the presence of autoantibodies directed against self-antigens (or “respective antoantigens”). In particular, embodiments of this disclosure include detecting autoantibodies produced by B cells from a patient suspected of having an autoimmune disease using a Direct B Cell test. Other embodiments include detecting autoantibodies produced by memory B cells using a Memory B Cell test. Further embodiments include methods of treatment of a patient having an autoimmune disease comprising administering a substance that decreases B cell numbers. Other embodiments comprise treating a patient with other known treatments.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include methods for detecting in vitro the presence of Memory B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that produce antibodies reactive to CNS antigens associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Stimulating PBMCs from patients with MS by a polyclonal stimulating agent promotes the ability of B-lymphocytes, when exposed to a CNS antigen, to produce antibodies specific for the CNS antigen. In contrast, stimulating PBMCs from subjects without MS do not produce such responses.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include methods for detecting in vitro the presence in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and in serum or plasma, of antibodies reactive to and of lymphocytes that are responsive to CNS antigens associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). These CNS antigens include, but are not limited to whole brain lysate and the myelin antigens myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), MOG peptides (MOGps), proteolipid protein (PLP), and PLP peptides (PLPps). PBMCs obtained from patients with active MS produce antibodies specific for CNS antigen, and causes T-lymphocytes to produce T-lymphocyte-specific cytokines, including interferon gamma (IFN-?), interleukin-2 (IL-2), or interleukin-17 (IL-17). In contrast, PBMCs from subjects without MS do not produce such responses.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to devices and methods for detecting opsonophagocytotic antibodies using detection particles having product-specific detection reagents and having a characteristic spectral feature. Detection substrates, include microwells. Phagocytic cells are grown in the microwells, and a sample of serum or other bodily fluid from a patient is introduced into the wells, along with a set of detection particles, each set having an antigen recognized by opsonophagocytotic antibodies. The detection particles bind to the antibodies present in the sample and the phagocytic cells then take up the detection particles, labeling the phagocytic cells. The cells are then visualized via image analysis, thereby detecting the presence of, and the types of the opsonophagocytotic antibodies in the sample.