Figure 2. Kinetics of CD138⁺HLA-DR⁺ PB during relapse of NMO.

(A) Analysis of pooled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) data from neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in remission and relapse. The plasmablasts (PBs) were subdivided into four subpopulations by considering the expression of CD138 and HLA-DR. The individual data show the percentages of each PB subpopulation among the total PB [*p < 0.05 by Mann–Whitney test; each error bar represents the median ± interquartile range (IQR)].

(B) Enrichment of CD138⁺HLA-DR⁺ PBs in the CSF. The PBMC and CSF cells were obtained from NMO during relapse. The values indicate the percentages of CD138⁺HLA-DR⁺ PBs among the total PB. The expression level of CD138 was assessed by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). Representative data of one out of three different cases are shown.