To assess whether there were disease- and sex-specific differences in the inhibitory capacity of CD32b engagement on TNF expression in CIS or MS patients, TNF data in B cell subsets with the clearest evidence of an inhibitory effect of CD32b engagement by IgG-IC in controls (i.e. naive and IgMhi MZ-like B cells) were examined. This evidence concerns the gene FCGR2B and in situ carcinoma.