Introduction: Bone marrow (BM) is an immunologically privileged site where activated autoantibody-producing B cells may survive for prolonged periods. We investigated the effect of rituximab (anti-CD20 mAb) in peripheral blood (PB) and BM B-cell and T-cell populations in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Methods: Active RA patients received rituximab (1,000 mg) on days 1 and 15. PB (n = 11) and BM (n = 8) aspirates were collected at baseline and at 3 months. We assessed B-cell and T-cell populations using triple-color flow cytometry.
Results: Rituximab therapy decreased PB (from a mean 2% to 0.9%, P = 0.022) but not BM (from 4.6% to 3.8%, P = 0.273) CD19+ B cells, associated with a significant reduction in the activated CD19+HLA-DR+ subset both in PB (from 55% to 19%, P = 0.007) and in BM (from 68% to 19%, P = 0.007). Response to rituximab was preceded by a significant decrease in PB and BM CD19+CD27+ memory B cells (P = 0.022). These effects were specific to rituximab since anti-TNF therapy did not reduce total or activated B cells. Rituximab therapy did not alter the number of activated CD4+HLA-DR+ and CD4+CD25+ T cells.
Conclusions: Rituximab therapy preferentially depletes activated CD19+HLA-DR+ B cells in the PB and BM of active RA patients. Clinical response to rituximab is associated with depletion of CD19+CD27+ memory B cells in PB and BM of RA patients.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2745815 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/ar2798 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Novel therapies in SLE treatment: A literature review.
Adv Clin Exp Med
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, autoimmune inflammatory disease with a multisystem manifestation and a variety of clinical symptoms. Over the last decades, the prognosis and life expectancy of patients with SLE improved significantly due to the implementation of corticosteroids combined with immunosuppressive agents. Nevertheless, the use of these medications is often associated with the occurrence of serious side effects and additional deterioration of organ function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Immune thrombocytopenia in people under the age of twenty : a ten-year experience of a pediatric hematology and oncology department in Casablanca].
Rev Med Liege
January 2025
Service d'Hématologie clinique, CHU 20 Août, Casablanca, Maroc.
We conducted a retrospective study of 83 cases of immune thrombocytopenia (IT) in patients under 20 years of age. The aim was to provide an overview of IT in our young patients. The median age was 10 years, with a predominance of females (71 %).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOpportunities and limitations of B cell depletion approaches in SLE.
Nat Rev Rheumatol
January 2025
Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
B cell depletion with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that selectively targets B cells by binding CD20, has been used off label in severe and resistant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for over two decades. Several biological mechanisms limit the efficacy of rituximab, including immunological reactions towards the chimeric molecule, increased numbers of residual B cells, including plasmablasts and plasma cells, and a post-treatment surge in B cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels. Consequently, rituximab induces remission in only a proportion of patients, and safety issues limit its use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Rare But Fatal Toxicity: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.
J Immunother Precis Oncol
February 2025
Section of Benign Hematology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy resulting from decreased activation of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13). TTP can cause organ damage and is often fatal if the appropriate treatment is not started immediately. Although primary immune TTP is the most common form of TTP, secondary immune etiologies, including complications from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have also been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRituximab as a first-line therapy in children with new-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
Clin Kidney J
January 2025
Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children, commonly treated with steroids, poses challenges due to associated side effects. Rituximab, known for its efficacy in reducing relapse frequency in difficult-to-treat cases, emerges a potential first-line therapy for pediatric new-onset INS.
Method: This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab as a first-line therapy for pediatric INS.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!