B cells upregulate NMDARs, respond to extracellular glutamate, and express mature BDNF to protect the brain from ischemic injury
Vanessa O. Torres, Jadwiga Turchan‐Cholewo, Mary K. Colson, Pavel Yanev, Daimen R. S. Britsch, Katherine M. Cotter, Annabel M. McAtee, Thomas A. Ujas, Domenico Mercurio, Xiangmei Kong, Erik J. Plautz, Chaitanya Joshi, Takeshi K. Matsui, Eiichiro Mori, Ambar Cajigas-Hernandez, Kielen R. Zuurbier, Steven Estus, Mark P. Goldberg, Nancy Monson, Ann Stowe
Abstract
B cells present in post-stroke human parenchyma. These data suggest that B cells express functional NMDARs that respond to glutamate, enhance NMDAR signaling with activation, and upregulate mature BDNF expression within the brain. This study identifies potential glutamate-induced neurotrophic roles for B cells in the brain; an immune response to neurotransmitters unique from established pro-inflammatory stimuli and relevant to any CNS-localized injury or disease.