Longterm impact of anti-CD20 mediated transient B cell depletion on memory B cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [Elektronische Ressource] = Langzeitveränderung der Gedächtnis-B-Zellen nach Anti-CD20-vermittelter B-Zelldepletion in Patienten mit rheumatoider Arthritis / submitted by Khalid Muhammad

LONGTERM IMPACT OF ANTI-CD20 MEDIATED TRANSIENT B CELL DEPLETION ON MEMORY B CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS LANGZEITVERÄNDERUNG DER GEDÄCHTNIS B-ZELLEN NACH ANTI-CD20 VERMITTELTER B-ZELLDEPLETION IN PATIENTEN MIT RHEUMATOIDER ARTHRITIS Doctoral thesis for a doctoral degree at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg Section: Infection and Immunity Submitted by Khalid Muhammad Gujrat, Pakistan Würzburg, 2009 Submitted on: ……………………………………………………..…….. Office stamp Members of the Promotionskomitee: Chairperson: ………………………………………………… Primary Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Tony Supervisor (Second): Prof. Dr. Georg Krohne Supervisor (Third): Dr. Ingolf Berberich Date of Public Defence: …………………………………………….…… Date of receipt of Certificates: ...………………………………………. To my parents, the dearest in my life! To my wife Asifa and our lovely son Rayyan, with love! Contents 1 Introduction ............................................................................. 1 1.1 B-cell development in Human ................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 B cell ontogeny .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 B cell activation.