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Zhang XY, Gong JY, Wang JS, Feng JY, Chen L, Xie XB, Lu Y. Efficacy of rituximab-containing regimens used as first-line and rescue therapy for giant cell hepatitis with autoimmune hemolytic anemia a retrospective study. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2024; 48:102392. [PMID: 38897557 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2024.102392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of rituximab (RTX)-containing therapy as first-line as well as rescue treatment for giant cell hepatitis with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (GCH-AHA). METHODS This retrospective study recruited patients diagnosed with GCH-AHA and treated with conventional immunosuppressor regimens consisting of prednisone or RTX-containing regimes consisting of RTX and prednisone, with or without another immunosuppressor. The primary outcomes were the complete remission (CR) rate and time-period required for CR. The secondary outcomes included relapses and adverse events. RESULTS Twenty patients (8 females and 12 males; age range 1-26 months), 15 receiving conventional regimens and 5 receiving RTX-containing regimens, were included. The CR rates were 73.3% (11/15) and 100% (5/5) in the conventional and RTX-containing groups, respectively. The time-period required for CR was significantly shorter in the RTX-containing group than in the conventional group (6 (3-8) versus 14 (5-25) months, P=0.015). Relapses occurred in 30.8% (4/13) of patients in the conventional group; all achieved CR after adding RTX. Relapses occurred in 40.0% (2/5) of patients in the RTX-containing group; both achieved CR after adding intravenous immune globulins or tacrolimus. Transient low immunoglobulin and infections were recorded in both groups. Treatment withdrawal was achieved in 73.3% (11/15) and 60.0% (3/5) of patients receiving conventional and RTX-containing regimens after 36 (2-101) and 22 (4-41) months, respectively. Two patients in conventional group died of disease progression and infection. CONCLUSIONS RTX-containing first-line therapy achieves CR of GCH-AHA more quickly than the conventional therapy. RTX is efficacious when added to rescue therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yuan Zhang
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing-Yu Gong
- Department of Pediatrics, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-She Wang
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Yan Feng
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lian Chen
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Bao Xie
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Lu
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China..
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Ünlü S, Sánchez Navarro BG, Cakan E, Berchtold D, Meleka Hanna R, Vural S, Vural A, Meisel A, Fichtner ML. Exploring the depths of IgG4: insights into autoimmunity and novel treatments. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1346671. [PMID: 38698867 PMCID: PMC11063302 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1346671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
IgG4 subclass antibodies represent the rarest subclass of IgG antibodies, comprising only 3-5% of antibodies circulating in the bloodstream. These antibodies possess unique structural features, notably their ability to undergo a process known as fragment-antigen binding (Fab)-arm exchange, wherein they exchange half-molecules with other IgG4 antibodies. Functionally, IgG4 antibodies primarily block and exert immunomodulatory effects, particularly in the context of IgE isotype-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. In the context of disease, IgG4 antibodies are prominently observed in various autoimmune diseases combined under the term IgG4 autoimmune diseases (IgG4-AID). These diseases include myasthenia gravis (MG) with autoantibodies against muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), nodo-paranodopathies with autoantibodies against paranodal and nodal proteins, pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus with antibodies against desmoglein and encephalitis with antibodies against LGI1/CASPR2. Additionally, IgG4 antibodies are a prominent feature in the rare entity of IgG4 related disease (IgG4-RD). Intriguingly, both IgG4-AID and IgG4-RD demonstrate a remarkable responsiveness to anti-CD20-mediated B cell depletion therapy (BCDT), suggesting shared underlying immunopathologies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of B cells, antibody subclasses, and their general properties before examining the distinctive characteristics of IgG4 subclass antibodies in the context of health, IgG4-AID and IgG4-RD. Furthermore, we will examine potential therapeutic strategies for these conditions, with a special focus on leveraging insights gained from anti-CD20-mediated BCDT. Through this analysis, we aim to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of IgG4-mediated diseases and identify promising possibilities for targeted therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selen Ünlü
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), İstanbul, Türkiye
- Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Blanca G. Sánchez Navarro
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elif Cakan
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Daniel Berchtold
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rafael Meleka Hanna
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Secil Vural
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), İstanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Atay Vural
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), İstanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Neurology, Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Andreas Meisel
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miriam L. Fichtner
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), İstanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Mescia F, Salviani C, Tonoli M, Affatato S, Moratto D, Tedesco M, Guerini A, Gemmo A, Camoni M, Delbarba E, Zubani R, Garrafa E, Chiarini M, Gregorini G, Scolari F, Alberici F. Sustained post-rituximab B-cell depletion is common in ANCA-associated vasculitis and is affected by sex and renal function. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2024; 39:683-693. [PMID: 37673675 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfad197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite the increasing use of rituximab in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), it remains unclear what the optimal dosing is, especially for maintenance of remission. A deeper understanding of post-rituximab B-cell repopulation patterns may aid better-tailored treatment. METHODS This is a monocentric, retrospective study including ANCA-positive AAV patients receiving a single course of rituximab induction. CD19+ B cells were longitudinally monitored with flow cytometry. B-cell repopulation was defined as CD19+ >10 cells/μL. RESULTS Seventy-one patients were included, the majority with microscopic polyangiitis (75%), myeloperoxidase-ANCA positivity (75%) and with renal involvement (79%). During a median follow-up of 54 months since the first rituximab infusion, 44 patients (62%) repopulated B cells, with a median time to repopulation of 39 months (range 7-102). Patients experiencing B-cell depletion lasting longer than the overall median time to repopulation (39 months) exhibited a lower risk of flare and higher risk of serious infection. In multivariate Cox regression, higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-2.98 per 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 eGFR] and female sex (HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.37-5.31) were independent predictors of increased rate of B-cell repopulation. CONCLUSION A subset of AAV patients develop sustained post-rituximab B-cell depletion, which associates with reduced risk of flare and increased risk of serious infection in the long term. Preserved renal function and female sex are associated with faster B-cell repopulation. These observations further highlight the need to personalize immunosuppression to improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Mescia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Salviani
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mattia Tonoli
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Affatato
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Moratto
- Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Martina Tedesco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alice Guerini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessia Gemmo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Camoni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisa Delbarba
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Zubani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emirena Garrafa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Chiarini
- Flow Cytometry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Scolari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federico Alberici
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Nephrology Unit, Spedali Civili Hospital, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Pollastro S, Musters A, Balzaretti G, Niewold I, van Schaik B, Hässler S, Verhoef CM, Pallardy M, van Kampen A, Mariette X, de Vries N. Sensitive B-cell receptor repertoire analysis shows repopulation correlates with clinical response to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2024; 26:70. [PMID: 38493208 PMCID: PMC10943808 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-024-03297-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although B-cell depleting therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is clearly effective, response is variable and does not correlate with B cell depletion itself. METHODS The B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire was prospectively analyzed in peripheral blood samples of twenty-eight RA patients undergoing rituximab therapy. Timepoints of achieved BCR-depletion and -repopulation were defined based on the percentage of unmutated BCRs in the repertoire. The predictive value of early BCR-depletion (within one-month post-treatment) and early BCR-repopulation (within 6 months post-treatment) on clinical response was assessed. RESULTS We observed changes in the peripheral blood BCR repertoire after rituximab treatment, i.e., increased clonal expansion, decreased clonal diversification and increased mutation load which persisted up to 12 months after treatment, but started to revert at month 6. Early BCR depletion was not associated with early clinical response but late depleters did show early response. Patients with early repopulation with unmutated BCRs showed a significant decrease in disease activity in the interval 6 to 12 months. Development of anti-drug antibodies non-significantly correlated with more BCR repopulation. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that rather than BCR-depletion it is repopulation with unmutated BCRs, possibly from naïve B cells, which induces remission. This suggests that (pre-existing) differences in B-cell turnover between patients explain the interindividual differences in early clinical effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Pollastro
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology | Amsterdam Rheumatology & Immunology Centre (ARC), Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute | Program Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Musters
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology | Amsterdam Rheumatology & Immunology Centre (ARC), Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Balzaretti
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology | Amsterdam Rheumatology & Immunology Centre (ARC), Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute | Program Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse Niewold
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology | Amsterdam Rheumatology & Immunology Centre (ARC), Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Barbera van Schaik
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Signe Hässler
- Université Paris Saclay, INSERM U1018, CESP, Villejuif, France
- INSERM UMR 959, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Biotherapy (CIC-BTi), Paris, France
| | | | - Marc Pallardy
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM, Inflammation, Microbiome, Immunosurveillance, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Antoine van Kampen
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xavier Mariette
- Université Paris-Saclay, INSERM UMR1184: Center for immunology of viral infections and autoimmune diseases, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
- Department of Rheumatology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Niek de Vries
- Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology | Amsterdam Rheumatology & Immunology Centre (ARC), Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute | Program Inflammatory Diseases, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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5
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Markmann JF, Burrell BE, Bromberg JS, Hartono C, Kaufman DB, Possselt AM, Naji A, Bridges ND, Breeden C, Kanaparthi S, Pardo J, Kopetskie H, Mason K, Lim N, Chandran S. Immunosuppression withdrawal in living-donor renal transplant recipients following induction with antithymocyte globulin and rituximab: Results of a prospective clinical trial. Am J Transplant 2024:S1600-6135(24)00202-8. [PMID: 38467375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Durable tolerance in kidney transplant recipients remains an important but elusive goal. We hypothesized that adding B cell depletion to T cell depletion would generate an immune milieu postreconstitution dominated by immature transitional B cells, favoring tolerance. The Immune Tolerance Network ITN039ST Research Study of ATG and Rituximab in Renal Transplantation was a prospective multicenter pilot study of live donor kidney transplant recipients who received induction with rabbit antithymocyte globulin and rituximab and initiated immunosuppression (IS) withdrawal (ISW) at 26 weeks. The primary endpoint was freedom from rejection at 52 weeks post-ISW. Six of the 10 subjects successfully completed ISW. Of these 6 subjects, 4 restarted immunosuppressive medications due to acute rejection or recurrent disease, 1 remains IS-free for over 9 years, and 1 was lost to follow-up after being IS-free for 42 weeks. There were no cases of patient or graft loss. CD19+ B cell frequencies returned to predepletion levels by 26 weeks posttransplant; immunoglobulin D+CD27--naïve B cells predominated. In contrast, memory cells dominated the repopulation of the T cell compartment. A regimen of combined B and T cell depletion did not generate the tolerogenic B cell profile observed in preclinical studies and did not lead to durable tolerance in the majority of kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Markmann
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bryna E Burrell
- Biomarker Discovery Group, Immune Tolerance Network, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan S Bromberg
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Choli Hartono
- Rogosin Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dixon B Kaufman
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew M Possselt
- Department of Surgery, University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ali Naji
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nancy D Bridges
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cynthia Breeden
- Immune Tolerance Network, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sai Kanaparthi
- Immune Tolerance Network, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jorge Pardo
- Immune Tolerance Network, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Noha Lim
- Immune Tolerance Network, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sindhu Chandran
- Immune Tolerance Network, Clinical Trials Group at the University of California- San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
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6
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Harris CT, Cohen S. Reducing Immunogenicity by Design: Approaches to Minimize Immunogenicity of Monoclonal Antibodies. BioDrugs 2024; 38:205-226. [PMID: 38261155 PMCID: PMC10912315 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00641-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have transformed therapeutic strategies for various diseases. Their high specificity to target antigens makes them ideal therapeutic agents for certain diseases. However, a challenge to their application in clinical practice is their potential risk to induce unwanted immune response, termed immunogenicity. This challenge drives the continued efforts to deimmunize these protein therapeutics while maintaining their pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy. Because mAbs hold a central position in therapeutic strategies against an array of diseases, the importance of conducting comprehensive immunogenicity risk assessment during the drug development process cannot be overstated. Such assessment necessitates the employment of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo strategies to evaluate the immunogenicity risk of mAbs. Understanding the intricacies of the mechanisms that drive mAb immunogenicity is crucial to improving their therapeutic efficacy and safety and developing the most effective strategies to determine and mitigate their immunogenic risk. This review highlights recent advances in immunogenicity prediction strategies, with a focus on protein engineering strategies used throughout development to reduce immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal T Harris
- Department of BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080-4990, USA
| | - Sivan Cohen
- Department of BioAnalytical Sciences, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080-4990, USA.
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7
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Beckers L, Baeten P, Popescu V, Swinnen D, Cardilli A, Hamad I, Van Wijmeersch B, Tavernier SJ, Kleinewietfeld M, Broux B, Fraussen J, Somers V. Alterations in the innate and adaptive immune system in a real-world cohort of multiple sclerosis patients treated with ocrelizumab. Clin Immunol 2024; 259:109894. [PMID: 38185268 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.109894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
B cell depletion by the anti-CD20 antibody ocrelizumab is effective in relapsing-remitting (RR) and primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated immunological changes in peripheral blood of a real-world MS cohort after 6 and 12 months of ocrelizumab. All RRMS and most PPMS patients (15/20) showed treatment response. Ocrelizumab not only reduced CD20+ B cells, but also numbers of CD20+ T cells. Absolute numbers of monocytes, dendritic cells and CD8+ T cells were increased, while CD56hi natural killer cells were reduced after ocrelizumab. The residual B cell population shifted towards transitional and activated, IgA+ switched memory B cells, double negative B cells, and antibody-secreting cells. Delaying the treatment interval by 2-3 months increased mean B cell frequencies and enhanced naive B cell repopulation. Ocrelizumab reduced plasma levels of interleukin(IL)-12p70 and interferon(IFN)-α2. These findings will contribute to understanding ineffective treatment responses, dealing with life-threatening infections and further unravelling MS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Beckers
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - P Baeten
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - V Popescu
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Noorderhart, Rehabilitation and MS Center, Pelt, Belgium
| | - D Swinnen
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - A Cardilli
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - I Hamad
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - B Van Wijmeersch
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; Noorderhart, Rehabilitation and MS Center, Pelt, Belgium
| | - S J Tavernier
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Kleinewietfeld
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium; VIB Laboratory of Translational Immunomodulation, Center for Inflammation Research (IRC), Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - B Broux
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - J Fraussen
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - V Somers
- University MS Center (UMSC), Hasselt-Pelt, Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.
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8
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Priddey A, Chen-Xu MXH, Cooper DJ, MacMillan S, Meisl G, Xu CK, Hosmillo M, Goodfellow IG, Kollyfas R, Doffinger R, Bradley JR, Mohorianu II, Jones R, Knowles TPJ, Smith R, Kosmoliaptsis V. Microfluidic antibody profiling after repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination links antibody affinity and concentration to impaired immunity and variant escape in patients on anti-CD20 therapy. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1296148. [PMID: 38259440 PMCID: PMC10800570 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1296148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with autoimmune/inflammatory conditions on anti-CD20 therapies, such as rituximab, have suboptimal humoral responses to vaccination and are vulnerable to poorer clinical outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to examine how the fundamental parameters of antibody responses, namely, affinity and concentration, shape the quality of humoral immunity after vaccination in these patients. Methods We performed in-depth antibody characterisation in sera collected 4 to 6 weeks after each of three vaccine doses to wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2 in rituximab-treated primary vasculitis patients (n = 14) using Luminex and pseudovirus neutralisation assays, whereas we used a novel microfluidic-based immunoassay to quantify polyclonal antibody affinity and concentration against both WT and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants. We performed comparative antibody profiling at equivalent timepoints in healthy individuals after three antigenic exposures to WT SARS-CoV-2 (one infection and two vaccinations; n = 15) and in convalescent patients after WT SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 30). Results Rituximab-treated patients had lower antibody levels and neutralisation titres against both WT and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants compared to healthy individuals. Neutralisation capacity was weaker against Omicron versus WT both in rituximab-treated patients and in healthy individuals. In the rituximab cohort, this was driven by lower antibody affinity against Omicron versus WT [median (range) KD: 21.6 (9.7-38.8) nM vs. 4.6 (2.3-44.8) nM, p = 0.0004]. By contrast, healthy individuals with hybrid immunity produced a broader antibody response, a subset of which recognised Omicron with higher affinity than antibodies in rituximab-treated patients [median (range) KD: 1.05 (0.45-1.84) nM vs. 20.25 (13.2-38.8) nM, p = 0.0002], underpinning the stronger serum neutralisation capacity against Omicron in the former group. Rituximab-treated patients had similar anti-WT antibody levels and neutralisation titres to unvaccinated convalescent individuals, despite two more exposures to SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Temporal profiling of the antibody response showed evidence of affinity maturation in healthy convalescent patients after a single SARS-CoV-2 infection, which was not observed in rituximab-treated patients, despite repeated vaccination. Discussion Our results enrich previous observations of impaired humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in rituximab-treated patients and highlight the significance of quantitative assessment of serum antibody affinity and concentration in monitoring anti-viral immunity, viral escape, and the evolution of the humoral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Priddey
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Xin Hua Chen-Xu
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel James Cooper
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Serena MacMillan
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine K. Xu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Myra Hosmillo
- Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ian G. Goodfellow
- Department of Pathology, Division of Virology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael Kollyfas
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rainer Doffinger
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - John R. Bradley
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Irina I. Mohorianu
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Jones
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rona Smith
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Vasilis Kosmoliaptsis
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation at the University of Cambridge and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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9
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Paardekooper LM, Fillié-Grijpma YE, van der Sluijs-Gelling AJ, Zlei M, van Doorn R, Vermeer MH, Paunovic M, Titulaer MJ, van der Maarel SM, van Dongen JJM, Verschuuren JJ, Huijbers MG. Autoantibody subclass predominance is not driven by aberrant class switching or impaired B cell development. Clin Immunol 2023; 257:109817. [PMID: 37925120 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
A subset of autoimmune diseases is characterized by predominant pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies (IgG4-AID). Why IgG4 predominates in these disorders is unknown. We hypothesized that dysregulated B cell maturation or aberrant class switching causes overrepresentation of IgG4+ B cells and plasma cells. Therefore, we compared the B cell compartment of patients from four different IgG4-AID with two IgG1-3-AID and healthy donors, using flow cytometry. Relative subset abundance at all maturation stages was normal, except for a, possibly treatment-related, reduction in immature and naïve CD5+ cells. IgG4+ B cell and plasma cell numbers were normal in IgG4-AID patients, however they had a (sub)class-independent 8-fold increase in circulating CD20-CD138+ cells. No autoreactivity was found in this subset. These results argue against aberrant B cell development and rather suggest the autoantibody subclass predominance to be antigen-driven. The similarities between IgG4-AID suggest that, despite displaying variable clinical phenotypes, they share a similar underlying immune profile.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mihaela Zlei
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten H Vermeer
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Manuela Paunovic
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten J Titulaer
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jacques J M van Dongen
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (CIC-IBMCC, USAL-CSIC-FICUS) and Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jan J Verschuuren
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje G Huijbers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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10
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Welte T, Westermann L, Kappes J, Schramm MA, Bemtgen X, Staudacher DL, Hug MJ, Venhoff N, Arnold F. Identification of Covariates Modulating B-Cell Repopulation Kinetics in Subjects Receiving Rituximab Treatment. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023; 75:2045-2053. [PMID: 37276446 DOI: 10.1002/art.42625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE B-cell depletion using the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is a cornerstone in the therapeutic concept of multiple autoimmune diseases. B-cell depletion is associated with a higher risk for severe infections, and the time span of B-cell repopulation differs greatly between individuals. Data on factors influencing B-cell repopulation kinetics are limited. This study aims to identify patient-specific and therapy-associated covariates that modulate B-cell repopulation. METHODS This single-center retrospective observational study presents data of 839 subjects receiving 2,017 courses of rituximab for autoimmune diseases. Assessed covariates are patient-specific factors (sex, age, kidney function, and underlying disease) and co-immunosuppression with common agents (azathioprine, cyclosporine A, cyclophosphamide, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and corticosteroids). The primary end point is the time to B-cell repopulation (≥5/μl). The secondary end point is the time to B-cell reconstitution (≥50/μl). Multivariate time-to-event analysis and logistic regression models were applied to estimate the influence of covariates. RESULTS Age over 60 years (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71 for repopulation, P = 0.008), impaired kidney function (HR 0.72, P = 0.001), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (HR 0.61, P < 0.001), solid organ transplantation (HR 0.4, P < 0.001), and co-immunosuppression with corticosteroids (HR 0.64, P < 0.001) or azathioprine (HR 0.49, P < 0.001) were associated with impaired B-cell repopulation and reconstitution. Effects of corticosteroids (P = 0.043) and azathioprine (P = 0.025) were dose dependent. CONCLUSION Prolonged rituximab dosing intervals may be effective to achieve B-cell depletion and reduce risk of infection in advanced age or patients with impaired kidney function. Co-medication with corticosteroids or azathioprine prolongs B-cell recovery, which may increase therapeutic effects but also the rate of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Welte
- Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Westermann
- Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia Kappes
- Department of Pneumology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus A Schramm
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Xavier Bemtgen
- Department of Medicine III (Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, and Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dawid L Staudacher
- Department of Medicine III (Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, and Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin J Hug
- Pharmacy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nils Venhoff
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frederic Arnold
- Department of Medicine IV, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, and Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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11
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Roeser A, Lazarus AH, Mahévas M. B cells and antibodies in refractory immune thrombocytopenia. Br J Haematol 2023; 203:43-53. [PMID: 37002711 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired bleeding disorder mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies secreted by plasma cells (PCs) in many patients. In refractory ITP patients, the persistence of splenic and bone marrow autoreactive long-lived PCs (LLPCs) may explain primary failure of rituximab and splenectomy respectively. The reactivation of autoreactive memory B cells generating new autoreactive PCs contributes to relapses after initial response to rituximab. Emerging strategies targeting B cells and PCs aim to prevent the settlement of splenic LLPCs with the combination of anti-BAFF and rituximab, to deplete autoreactive PCs with anti-CD38 antibodies, and to induce deeper B-cell depletion in tissues with novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies and anti-CD19 therapies. Alternative strategies, focused on controlling autoantibody mediated effects, have also been developed, including SYK and BTK inhibitors, complement inhibitors, FcRn blockers and inhibitors of platelet desialylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Roeser
- Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), INSERM U1151/CNRS UMS 8253, ATIP-Avenir TeamAI2B, Paris, France
- Service de Médecine Interne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Créteil, France
| | - Alan H Lazarus
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Departments of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Innovation and Portfolio Management, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthieu Mahévas
- Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM), INSERM U1151/CNRS UMS 8253, ATIP-Avenir TeamAI2B, Paris, France
- Service de Médecine Interne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Créteil, France
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12
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Qu Y, Li D, Liu W, Shi D. Molecular consideration relevant to the mechanism of the comorbidity between psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus (Review). Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:482. [PMID: 37745036 PMCID: PMC10515117 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a common autoimmune disease with a global incidence and newly diagnosed population estimated at 5.14 (range, 1.4-15.13) per 100,000 person-years and 0.40 million people annually, respectively, affects multiple tissues and organs; for example, skin, blood system, heart and kidneys. Accumulating data has also demonstrated that psoriasis (PS) can be a systemic inflammatory disease, which can affect organs other than the skin and occur alongside other autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and SLE. The current explanations for the possible comorbidity of PS and SLE include: i) The two diseases share susceptible gene loci; ii) they share a common IL-23/T helper 17 (Th17) axis inflammatory pathway; and iii) the immunopathogenesis of the two conditions is a consequence of the interactions between IL-17 cytokines with effector Th17 cells, T regulatory cells, as well as B cells. In addition, the therapeutic efficacy of IL-17 or TNF-α inhibitors has been demonstrated in PS, and has also become evident in SLE. However, the mechanisms have not been investigated. To the best of our knowledge, there remains a lack of substantial studies on the correlation between PS and SLE. In the present review, the literature, with regards to the epidemiology, genetic predisposition, inflammatory mechanisms and treatment of the patients with both PS and SLE, has been reviewed. Further investigations into the molecular pathogenic mechanism may provide drug targets that could benefit the patients with concomitant PS and SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Qu
- Department of Dermatology, College of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272067, P.R. China
| | - Dongmei Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Weida Liu
- Department of Medical Mycology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Dermatology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 272002, P.R. China
| | - Dongmei Shi
- Department of Dermatology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong 272011, P.R. China
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13
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Duret PM, Schleiss C, Kawka L, Meyer N, Ye T, Saraux A, Devauchelle-Pensec V, Seror R, Larroche C, Perdriger A, Sibilia J, Vallat L, Fornecker LM, Nocturne G, Mariette X, Gottenberg JE. Association Between Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Gene Overexpression and Risk of Lymphoma in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023; 75:1798-1811. [PMID: 37115807 DOI: 10.1002/art.42550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We undertook this study to analyze whole blood gene expression and to investigate the role of B cell genes in primary Sjögren's syndrome-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (primary SS-NHL). METHODS Peripheral whole blood samples were collected from 345 well-phenotyped patients with primary SS enrolled in the prospective Assessment of Systemic Signs and Evolution in Sjögren's Syndrome (ASSESS) cohort. Transcriptomic analysis was performed using human Clariom S Arrays (Affymetrix). In our primary analysis, we considered patients with incident lymphoma (i-primary SS-NHL) as the case group and all patients without lymphoma as the comparison group. In our sensitivity analyses, we considered all patients with primary SS-NHL, including those with a history of lymphoma (h-primary SS-NHL), as the case group and primary SS patients without lymphoma, stratified on their risk factors of lymphoma, as the comparison group. RESULTS Twenty-one patients with primary SS-NHL (including 8 with i-primary SS-NHL and 13 h-primary SS-NHL) were eligible for transcriptomic analysis; we compared these patients to 324 primary SS controls without lymphoma, including 110 with moderate to severe disease activity and 61 with no risk factor of lymphoma. Functional clustering analyses revealed an enrichment of genes related to innate and adaptive immunity, including B cell-related genes. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) genes were overexpressed before the occurrence of lymphoma in patients with incident lymphoma compared with patients without lymphoma. In sensitivity analyses, BTK was consistently up-regulated across all comparisons performed. BTK expression was associated with risk of lymphoma on multivariate analyses, which considered 9 validated predictors of lymphoma in primary SS. CONCLUSION BTK and APRIL were overexpressed in the peripheral blood of primary SS patients prior to lymphoma. The association between BTK, APRIL, and primary SS-NHL requires confirmation in other prospective cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cedric Schleiss
- CNRS, Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique/Laboratory of Excellence Medalis, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lou Kawka
- National Reference Centre For Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Department of Rheumatology, Strasbourg University Hospital, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nicolas Meyer
- Department of Public Health, GMRC, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tao Ye
- GenomEAST platform, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U1258, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire, IGBMC, Illkirch, France
| | - Alain Saraux
- Department of Rheumatology, Brest University Hospital, UBO, INSERM 1227, LabEx IGO, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares CERAINO, Brest, France
| | - Valérie Devauchelle-Pensec
- Department of Rheumatology, Brest University Hospital, UBO, INSERM 1227, LabEx IGO, Centre de Référence Maladies Rares CERAINO, Brest, France
| | - Raphaele Seror
- Department of Rheumatology, Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM UMR1184, Centre for Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Claire Larroche
- Department of Internal Medicine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France
| | - Aleth Perdriger
- Department of Rheumatology, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Jean Sibilia
- National Reference Centre For Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Department of Rheumatology, Strasbourg University Hospital, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurent Vallat
- Laboratory Hematology, Strasbourg University Hospital, INSERM U1113, IRFAC, Strasbourg, France
| | - Luc-Matthieu Fornecker
- Department of Hematology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe, Strasbourg, France
| | - Gaetane Nocturne
- Department of Rheumatology, Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM UMR1184, Centre for Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Mariette
- Department of Rheumatology, Université Paris-Saclay, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM UMR1184, Centre for Immunology of Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Jacques-Eric Gottenberg
- CNRS, Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique/Laboratory of Excellence Medalis, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Strasbourg, France; National Reference Centre For Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Department of Rheumatology, Strasbourg University Hospital, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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14
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Korzhenevich J, Janowska I, van der Burg M, Rizzi M. Human and mouse early B cell development: So similar but so different. Immunol Lett 2023; 261:1-12. [PMID: 37442242 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Early B cell development in the bone marrow ensures the replenishment of the peripheral B cell pool. Immature B cells continuously develop from hematopoietic stem cells, in a process guided by an intricate network of transcription factors as well as chemokine and cytokine signals. Humans and mice possess somewhat similar regulatory mechanisms of B lymphopoiesis. The continuous discovery of monogenetic defects that impact early B cell development in humans substantiates the similarities and differences with B cell development in mice. These differences become relevant when targeted therapeutic approaches are used in patients; therefore, predicting potential immunological adverse events is crucial. In this review, we have provided a phenotypical classification of human and murine early progenitors and B cell stages, based on surface and intracellular protein expression. Further, we have critically compared the role of key transcription factors (Ikaros, E2A, EBF1, PAX5, and Aiolos) and chemo- or cytokine signals (FLT3, c-kit, IL-7R, and CXCR4) during homeostatic and aberrant B lymphopoiesis in both humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakov Korzhenevich
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iga Janowska
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Freiburg University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam van der Burg
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Rizzi
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Freiburg University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany; CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
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15
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Zhu R, Tang H, Howard L, Waldman M, Zhu Q. The predictive and prognostic value of peripheral blood antigen-specific memory B cells in phospholipase A2 receptor-associated membranous nephropathy. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.14.23292885. [PMID: 37790554 PMCID: PMC10543243 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.14.23292885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Phospholipase A2 receptor-associated membranous nephropathy (PLA2R-MN) is an anti-PLA2R antibody (PLA2R-Ab) mediated autoimmune kidney disease. Although antibody titer correlates closely with disease activity, whether it can provide longer-term predictions on disease course and progression is unclear. Rituximab, a B-cell depletion therapy, has become the first-line treatment option for PLA2R-MN; however, the response to Rituximab varies among patients. Methods We developed a flow cytometry-based test that detects and quantifies PLA2R antigen-specific memory B cells (PLA2R-MBCs) in peripheral blood, the primary source for PLA2R-Ab production upon disease relapse. We applied the test to 159 blood samples collected from 28 patients with PLA2R-MN (at diagnosis, during and after immunosuppressive treatment, immunological remission, and relapse) to evaluate the relationship between circulating PLA2R-MBC levels and disease activity. Results The level of PLA2R-MBCs in healthy controls (n=56) is less than or equal to 1.5% of the total MBC compartment. High circulating PLA2R-MBC levels were detected in two patients post-Rituximab despite achieving immunologic and proteinuric remission, as well as in two patients with negative serum autoantibody but increasing proteinuria. Elimination of these cells with Rituximab improved clinical outcomes. Moreover, five patients exhibited elevated PLA2R-MBC levels before disease relapse, followed by a rapid decline to baseline when relapse became clinically evident. COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly affected the dynamics of circulating PLA2R-MBCs. Conclusions This study suggests that monitoring PLA2R-MBC levels in patients with PLA2R-MN may help refine and individualize immunosuppressive therapy and predict disease course and progression. The technology and findings may also have broader applications in the clinical management of other autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Zhu
- ImmunoWork, Monrovia, California, CA 91016-6353
| | - Hong Tang
- ImmunoWork, Monrovia, California, CA 91016-6353
| | - Lilian Howard
- Clinical Research Center, NIDDK/Kidney Disease Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1455
| | - Meryl Waldman
- Clinical Research Center, NIDDK/Kidney Disease Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1455
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16
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Vincenti F, Angeletti A, Ghiggeri GM. State of the art in childhood nephrotic syndrome: concrete discoveries and unmet needs. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1167741. [PMID: 37503337 PMCID: PMC10368981 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1167741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a clinical entity characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and peripheral edema. NS affects about 2-7 per 100,000 children aged below 18 years old yearly and is classified, based on the response to drugs, into steroid sensitive (SSNS), steroid dependent, (SDNS), multidrug dependent (MDNS), and multidrug resistant (MRNS). Forms of NS that are more difficult to treat are associated with a worse outcome with respect to renal function. In particular, MRNS commonly progresses to end stage renal failure requiring renal transplantation, with recurrence of the original disease in half of the cases. Histological presentations of NS may vary from minimal glomerular lesions (MCD) to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and, of relevance, the histological patterns do not correlate with the response to treatments. Moreover, around half of MRNS cases are secondary to causative pathogenic variants in genes involved in maintaining the glomerular structure. The pathogenesis of NS is still poorly understood and therapeutic approaches are mostly based on clinical experience. Understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms of NS is one of the 'unmet needs' in nephrology and represents a significant challenge for the scientific community. The scope of the present review includes exploring relevant findings, identifying unmet needs, and reviewing therapeutic developments that characterize NS in the last decades. The main aim is to provide a basis for new perspectives and mechanistic studies in NS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Vincenti
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Andrea Angeletti
- Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Ghiggeri
- Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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17
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Costa GD, Comi G. A safety review of current monoclonal antibodies used to treat multiple sclerosis. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2023; 22:1011-1024. [PMID: 37314699 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2224556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have shown efficacy in reducing MS relapse rates, disease progression, and brain lesion activity. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the literature on the use of mAbs for the treatment of MS, including their mechanisms of action, clinical trial data, safety profiles, and long-term outcomes. The review focuses on the three main categories of mAbs used in MS: alemtuzumab, natalizumab, and anti-CD20 drugs. A literature search was conducted using relevant keywords and guidelines and reports from regulatory agencies were reviewed. The search covered studies published from inception to 31 December 202231 December 2022. The article also discusses the potential risks and benefits of these therapies, including their effects on infection rates, malignancies, and vaccination efficacy. EXPERT OPINION Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of MS, but safety concerns must be considered, particularly with regards to infection rates, malignancy risk, and vaccination efficacy. Clinicians must weigh the potential benefits and risks of mAbs on an individual patient basis, taking into account factors such as age, disease severity, and comorbidities. Ongoing monitoring and surveillance are essential to ensure the long-term safety and effectiveness of monoclonal antibody therapies in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giancarlo Comi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Center, Casa di Cura Igea, Milan, Italy
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18
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Murase K, Takada K, Arihara Y, Miyanishi K, Kato J. Sotrovimab Treatment for COVID-19 Effective in a B-Cell-Depleted Patient After Anti-CD20 Treatment. Cureus 2023; 15:e41486. [PMID: 37551219 PMCID: PMC10404336 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with hematologic malignancies are well known to have prolonged COVID-19 pneumonia. The cause has been reported to be B cell depletion after administration of anti-CD20 antibodies. Here, we report a case of COVID-19 pneumonia due to prolonged B-cell depletion after anti-CD20 antibody therapy for malignant lymphoma two years before. Sotrovimab, a neutralizing antibody that was designed to prevent the progression of COVID-19, was successful in preventing the progression to severe disease in this B-cell-depleted patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyuki Murase
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, JPN
| | - Kohichi Takada
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, JPN
| | - Yohei Arihara
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, JPN
| | - Koji Miyanishi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, JPN
| | - Junji Kato
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sapporo Kiyota Hospital, Sapporo, JPN
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19
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Rodziewicz M, Dyball S, Lunt M, McDonald S, Sutton E, Parker B, Bruce IN. Early infection risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with rituximab or belimumab from the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Biologics Register (BILAG-BR): a prospective longitudinal study. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2023; 5:e284-e292. [PMID: 38251591 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(23)00091-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at an increased risk of infection relative to the general population. We aimed to describe the frequency and risk factors for serious infections in patients with moderate-to-severe SLE treated with rituximab, belimumab, and standard of care therapies in a large national observational cohort. METHODS The British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Biologics Register (BILAG-BR) is a UK-based prospective register of patients with SLE. Patients were recruited by their treating physician as part of their scheduled care from 64 centres across the UK by use of a standardised case report form. Inclusion criteria for the BILAG-BR included age older than 5 years, ability to provide informed consent, a diagnosis of SLE, and starting a new biological therapy within the last 12 months or a new standard of care drug within the last month. The primary outcome for this study was the rate of serious infections within the first 12 months of therapy. Serious infections were defined as those requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment, hospital admission, or resulting in morbidity or death. Infection and mortality data were collected from study centres and further mortality data were collected from the UK Office for National Statistics. The relationship between serious infection and drug type was analysed using a multiple-failure Cox proportional hazards model. FINDINGS Between July 1, 2010, and Feb 23, 2021, 1383 individuals were recruited to the BILAG-BR. 335 patients were excluded from this analysis. The remaining 1048 participants contributed 1002·7 person-years of follow-up and included 746 (71%) participants on rituximab, 119 (11%) participants on belimumab, and 183 (17%) participants on standard of care. The median age of the cohort was 39 years (IQR 30-50), 942 (90%) of 1048 patients were women and 106 (10%) were men. Of the patients with available ethnicity data, 514 (56%) of 911 were White, 169 (19%) were Asian, 161 (18%) were Black, and 67 (7%) were of multiple-mixed or other ethnic backgrounds. 118 serious infections occurred in 76 individuals during the 12-month study period, which included 92 serious infections in 58 individuals on rituximab, eight serious infections in five individuals receiving belimumab, and 18 serious infections in 13 individuals on standard of care. The overall crude incidence rate of serious infection was 117·7 (95% CI 98·3-141·0) per 1000 person-years. Compared with standard of care, the serious infection risk was similar in the rituximab (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1·68 [0·60-4·68]) and belimumab groups (1·01 [0·21-4·80]). Across the whole cohort in multivariate analysis, serious infection risk was associated with prednisolone dose (>10 mg; 2·38 [95%CI 1·47-3·84]), hypogammaglobulinaemia (<6 g/L; 2·16 [1·38-3·37]), and multimorbidity (1·45 [1·17-1·80]). Additional concomitant immunosuppressive use appeared to be associated with a reduced risk (0·60 [0·41-0·90]). We found no significant safety signals regarding atypical infections. Six infection-related deaths occurred at a median of 121 days (IQR 60-151) days from cohort entry. INTERPRETATION In patients with moderate-to-severe SLE, rituximab, belimumab, and standard immunosuppressive therapy have similar serious infection risks. Key risk factors for serious infections included multimorbidity, hypogammaglobulinaemia, and increased glucocorticoid doses. When considering the risk of serious infection, we propose that immunosupppressives, rituximab, and belimumab should be prioritised as mainstay therapies to optimise SLE management and support proactive minimisation of glucocorticoid use. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Rodziewicz
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sarah Dyball
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Mark Lunt
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen McDonald
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Emily Sutton
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ben Parker
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Ian N Bruce
- Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
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20
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Berti A, Hillion S, Konig MF, Moura MC, Hummel AM, Carmona E, Peikert T, Fervenza FC, Kallenberg CGM, Langford CA, Merkel PA, Monach PA, Seo P, Spiera RF, Brunetta P, Clair EW, Harris KM, Stone JH, Grandi G, Pers JO, Specks U, Cornec D. Autoreactive Plasmablasts After B Cell Depletion With Rituximab and Relapses in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023; 75:736-747. [PMID: 36281741 PMCID: PMC10280646 DOI: 10.1002/art.42388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Autoreactive B cells are responsible for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) production in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Rituximab (RTX) depletes circulating B cells, including autoreactive B cells. We aimed to evaluate changes and associations with relapse of the circulating autoreactive B cell pool following therapeutic B cell depletion in AAV. METHODS Sequential flow cytometry was performed on 148 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 23 patients with proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA-positive AAV who were treated with RTX for remission induction and monitored after stopping therapy during long-term follow-up in a prospective clinical trial. PR3 was used as a ligand to target autoreactive PR3-specific (PR3+) B cells. B cell recurrence was considered as the first blood sample with ≥10 B cells/μl after RTX treatment. RESULTS At B cell recurrence, PR3+ B cell frequency among B cells was higher than baseline (P < 0.01). Within both PR3+ and total B cells, frequencies of transitional and naive subsets were higher at B cell recurrence than at baseline, while memory subsets were lower (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). At B cell recurrence, frequencies of B cells and subsets did not differ between patients who experienced relapse and patients who remained in remission. In contrast, the plasmablast frequency within the PR3+ B cell pool was higher in patients who experienced relapse and associated with a shorter time to relapse. Frequencies of PR3+ plasmablasts higher than baseline were more likely to be found in patients who experienced relapse within the following 12 months compared to those in sustained remission (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The composition of the autoreactive B cell pool varies significantly following RTX treatment in AAV, and early plasmablast enrichment within the autoreactive pool is associated with future relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvise Berti
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and Center for Medical Sciences (CISMed), Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Italy, and Rheumatology Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, APSS Trento, Italy
| | - Sophie Hillion
- Jacques-Olivier Pers, DDS, PhD, Divi Cornec, MD, PhD: Université de Bretagne Occidendale, Brest, Bretagne, France
| | - Maximilian F. Konig
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marta Casal Moura
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Amber M. Hummel
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Eva Carmona
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Tobias Peikert
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | - Cees G. M. Kallenberg
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter A. Merkel
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, and Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | | | - Philip Seo
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert F. Spiera
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York
| | | | | | | | - John H. Stone
- Massachusetts General Hospital Rheumatology Unit, Boston
| | - Guido Grandi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Italy
| | - Jacques-Olivier Pers
- Jacques-Olivier Pers, DDS, PhD, Divi Cornec, MD, PhD: Université de Bretagne Occidendale, Brest, Bretagne, France
| | - Ulrich Specks
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Thoracic Disease Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Divi Cornec
- Jacques-Olivier Pers, DDS, PhD, Divi Cornec, MD, PhD: Université de Bretagne Occidendale, Brest, Bretagne, France
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21
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Looney CM, Strauli N, Cascino MD, Garma H, Schroeder AV, Takahashi C, O'Gorman W, Green C, Herman AE. Development of a novel, highly sensitive assay for quantification of minimal residual B cells in autoimmune disease and comparison to traditional methods across B-cell-depleting agents. Clin Immunol 2023; 248:109265. [PMID: 36796471 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Targeted B-cell depletion is a useful therapy for many diseases, including autoimmune disorders and certain cancers. We developed a sensitive blood B-cell depletion assay, MRB 1.1, compared its performance with the T-cell/B-cell/NK-cell (TBNK) assay, and assessed B-cell depletion with different therapies. The empirically defined lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for CD19+ cells in the TBNK assay was 10 cells/μL, and 0.441 cells/μL for the MRB 1.1 assay. The TBNK LLOQ was used to compare differences between B-cell depletion in similar lupus nephritis patient populations who received rituximab (LUNAR), ocrelizumab (BELONG), or obinutuzumab (NOBILITY). After 4 weeks, 10% of patients treated with rituximab retained detectable B cells vs 1.8% with ocrelizumab and 1.7% for obinutuzumab; at 24 weeks 93% of patients who received obinutuzumab remained below LLOQ vs 63% for rituximab. More-sensitive measurements of B cells may reveal differences in potency among anti-CD20 agents, which may associate with clinical outcomes.
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22
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Preglej T, Brinkmann M, Steiner G, Aletaha D, Göschl L, Bonelli M. Advanced immunophenotyping: A powerful tool for immune profiling, drug screening, and a personalized treatment approach. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1096096. [PMID: 37033944 PMCID: PMC10080106 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1096096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Various autoimmune diseases are characterized by distinct cell subset distributions and activation profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs can therefore serve as an ideal biomarker material, which is easily accessible and allows for screening of multiple cell types. A detailed understanding of the immune landscape is critical for the diagnosis of patients with autoimmune diseases, as well as for a personalized treatment approach. In our study, we investigate the potential of multi-parameter spectral flow cytometry for the identification of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases and its power as an evaluation tool for in vitro drug screening approaches (advanced immunophenotyping). We designed a combination of two 22-color immunophenotyping panels for profiling cell subset distribution and cell activation. Downstream bioinformatics analyses included percentages of individual cell populations and median fluorescent intensity of defined markers which were then visualized as heatmaps and in dimensionality reduction approaches. In vitro testing of epigenetic immunomodulatory drugs revealed an altered activation status upon treatment, which supports the use of spectral flow cytometry as a high-throughput drug screening tool. Advanced immunophenotyping might support the exploration of novel therapeutic drugs and contribute to future personalized treatment approaches in autoimmune diseases and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Göschl
- *Correspondence: Lisa Göschl, ; Michael Bonelli,
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23
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Zhen C, Hou Y, Zhao B, Ma X, Dai T, Yan C. Efficacy and safety of rituximab treatment in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1051609. [PMID: 36578492 PMCID: PMC9791086 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1051609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune diseases with various subtypes, myositis-specific antibodies, and affect multiple systems. The treatment of IIMs remains challenging, especially for refractory myositis. In addition to steroids and traditional immunosuppressants, rituximab (RTX), a B cell-depleting monoclonal antibody, is emerging as an alternative treatment for refractory myositis. However, the therapeutic response to RTX remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of RTX in patients with IIMs, excluding sporadic inclusion body myositis. Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang Data were searched for relevant studies. The overall effective rate, complete response rate, and partial response rate were calculated to assess the efficacy of RTX. The incidences of adverse events, infection, severe adverse events, severe infection, and infusion reactions were collected to evaluate the safety of RTX. Subgroup analyses were performed using IIM subtypes, affected organs, continents, and countries. We also performed a sensitivity analysis to identify the sources of heterogeneity. Results A total of 26 studies were included in the quantitative analysis, which showed that 65% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 54%, 75%) of patients with IIMs responded to RTX, 45% (95% CI: 22%, 70%) of patients achieved a complete response, and 39% (95% CI: 26%, 53%) achieved a partial response. Subgroup analyses indicated that the overall efficacy rates in patients with refractory IIMs, dermatomyositis and polymyositis, as well as anti-synthetase syndrome were 62%, 68%, and 62%, respectively. The overall efficacy rates for muscle, lungs, and skin involvement were 59%, 65%, and 81%, respectively. In addition, studies conducted in Germany and the United States showed that patients with IIMs had an excellent response to RTX, with an effective rate of 90% and 77%, respectively. The incidence of severe adverse events and infections was 8% and 2%, respectively. Conclusion RTX may be an effective and relatively safe treatment choice in patients with IIMs, especially for refractory cases. However, further verification via randomized controlled trials is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhen
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China,Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Hou
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Bing Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaotian Ma
- Department of Medicine Experimental Center, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tingjun Dai
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Tingjun Dai, ; Chuanzhu Yan,
| | - Chuanzhu Yan
- Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China,Department of Central Laboratory and Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China,Brain Science Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Tingjun Dai, ; Chuanzhu Yan,
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24
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Liu J, Guan F. B cell phenotype, activity, and function in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Res 2022:10.1038/s41390-022-02336-w. [PMID: 36316536 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most frequent glomerular disease in childhood. However, its underlying etiology mechanism lacks thorough understanding. Previous studies have described INS as a T cell functional disorder resulting in increased plasma lymphocyte-derived permeability factors. In children with frequent relapses of nephrotic syndrome, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic efficacy of CD20 monoclonal antibodies in depleting B cells may provide additional evidence in exploring the critical role of B lymphocytes in INS pathogenesis. Previous studies have proposed that RTX bound to CD20 through antibody-dependent and complement-dependent cytotoxicity and led to lytic clearance of B cells. Additionally, RTX exerted an effect by blocking the interaction between B and T cells or regulating homeostasis and functions of T cell subsets. Recent studies on the development, differentiation, and activation of B-lymphocytes in glomerular diseases have suggested that the B-lymphocytes participate in the INS pathogenesis through interaction with T cells, secretion of antibodies, or production of cytokines. In this study, we aimed to provide a detailed description of the current knowledge on the development, differentiation, activity, functions, and related regulating factors of B cells involved in INS. Thus, further understanding of the immunopathogenesis of INS may offer some opportunities in precisely targeting B cells during therapeutic interventions. IMPACT: The topic "B cells play a role in glomerular disease" is a novel point, which is not completely described previously. We described interactions between T and B cells and immunoglobulin, IgG, IgM, IgE, etc. as well in glomerular disease. The research of regulatory factors associated with B cell's function, like BAFF, is a hot topic in other diseases; however, it is rare in glomerular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhan Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 221002, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fengjun Guan
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 221002, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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25
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Xu L, Wang F, Luo F. Rituximab for the treatment of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1019915. [PMID: 36386239 PMCID: PMC9650441 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1019915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common pulmonary disease often associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD). Currently, no gold-standard therapies are available for CTD-ILD. Recently, several studies have proposed that rituximab (RTX) may be effective for the treatment of CTD-ILD. Objectives: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of RTX for the treatment of CTD-ILD. Methods: Studies were selected from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, up to 20 July 2022. Improvement and stable rates were extracted as the main outcomes and pooled using the weighted mean proportion with fixed or random-effects models, in case of significant heterogeneity (I 2 > 50%). Safety analysis was performed based on the adverse events reported in all of the studies. Results: Thirteen studies (312 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The follow-up durations ranged from 6 to 36 months. The pooled improvement rate was 35.0% (95% CI: 0.277-0.442), while the pooled stable rate was 59.2% (95% CI: 0.534-0.656). Anti-synthetase syndrome associated with ILD [ASS-ILD, 48.1% (95% CI, 0.373-0.620)] and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies associated with ILD [IIM-ILD, non-ASS, 47.4% (95% CI, 0.266-0.846)] had higher improvement rates than the other types. A total of 106 adverse events associated with RTX or progressive ILD were reported among the 318 patients, 55.7% of which were mild. Among 19 deaths, 17 were due to ILD progression, one to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, and one to Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Conclusion: RTX, which exhibits a satisfactory safety profile, is an effective treatment option for CTD-ILD, even in patients who fail to respond to other therapies. Further randomized trials are needed to assess the efficacy of rituximab compared to other treatments for CTD-ILD. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier (CRD42022363403).
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Affiliation(s)
- Linrui Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Faping Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengming Luo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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26
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Fichtner ML, Hoehn KB, Ford EE, Mane-Damas M, Oh S, Waters P, Payne AS, Smith ML, Watson CT, Losen M, Martinez-Martinez P, Nowak RJ, Kleinstein SH, O'Connor KC. Reemergence of pathogenic, autoantibody-producing B cell clones in myasthenia gravis following B cell depletion therapy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:154. [PMID: 36307868 PMCID: PMC9617453 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01454-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody-mediated autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junction. A small subset of patients (<10%) with MG, have autoantibodies targeting muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). MuSK MG patients respond well to CD20-mediated B cell depletion therapy (BCDT); most achieve complete stable remission. However, relapse often occurs. To further understand the immunomechanisms underlying relapse, we studied autoantibody-producing B cells over the course of BCDT. We developed a fluorescently labeled antigen to enrich for MuSK-specific B cells, which was validated with a novel Nalm6 cell line engineered to express a human MuSK-specific B cell receptor. B cells (≅ 2.6 million) from 12 different samples collected from nine MuSK MG patients were screened for MuSK specificity. We successfully isolated two MuSK-specific IgG4 subclass-expressing plasmablasts from two of these patients, who were experiencing a relapse after a BCDT-induced remission. Human recombinant MuSK mAbs were then generated to validate binding specificity and characterize their molecular properties. Both mAbs were strong MuSK binders, they recognized the Ig1-like domain of MuSK, and showed pathogenic capacity when tested in an acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering assay. The presence of persistent clonal relatives of these MuSK-specific B cell clones was investigated through B cell receptor repertoire tracing of 63,977 unique clones derived from longitudinal samples collected from these two patients. Clonal variants were detected at multiple timepoints spanning more than five years and reemerged after BCDT-mediated remission, predating disease relapse by several months. These findings demonstrate that a reservoir of rare pathogenic MuSK autoantibody-expressing B cell clones survive BCDT and reemerge into circulation prior to manifestation of clinical relapse. Overall, this study provides both a mechanistic understanding of MuSK MG relapse and a valuable candidate biomarker for relapse prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam L Fichtner
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street - Room 353J, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street - Room 353J, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Kenneth B Hoehn
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Easton E Ford
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Marina Mane-Damas
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sangwook Oh
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Patrick Waters
- Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aimee S Payne
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Melissa L Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Corey T Watson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mario Losen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Richard J Nowak
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street - Room 353J, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Steven H Kleinstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street - Room 353J, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Program in Computational Biology & Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kevin C O'Connor
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street - Room 353J, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street - Room 353J, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
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Mackensen A, Müller F, Mougiakakos D, Böltz S, Wilhelm A, Aigner M, Völkl S, Simon D, Kleyer A, Munoz L, Kretschmann S, Kharboutli S, Gary R, Reimann H, Rösler W, Uderhardt S, Bang H, Herrmann M, Ekici AB, Buettner C, Habenicht KM, Winkler TH, Krönke G, Schett G. Anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for refractory systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Med 2022; 28:2124-2132. [PMID: 36109639 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a life-threatening autoimmune disease characterized by adaptive immune system activation, formation of double-stranded DNA autoantibodies and organ inflammation. Five patients with SLE (four women and one man) with a median (range) age of 22 (6) years, median (range) disease duration of 4 (8) years and active disease (median (range) SLE disease activity index Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index: 16 (8)) refractory to several immunosuppressive drug treatments were enrolled in a compassionate-use chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell program. Autologous T cells from patients with SLE were transduced with a lentiviral anti-CD19 CAR vector, expanded and reinfused at a dose of 1 × 106 CAR T cells per kg body weight into the patients after lymphodepletion with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. CAR T cells expanded in vivo, led to deep depletion of B cells, improvement of clinical symptoms and normalization of laboratory parameters including seroconversion of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. Remission of SLE according to DORIS criteria was achieved in all five patients after 3 months and the median (range) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score after 3 months was 0 (2). Drug-free remission was maintained during longer follow-up (median (range) of 8 (12) months after CAR T cell administration) and even after the reappearance of B cells, which was observed after a mean (±s.d.) of 110 ± 32 d after CAR T cell treatment. Reappearing B cells were naïve and showed non-class-switched B cell receptors. CAR T cell treatment was well tolerated with only mild cytokine-release syndrome. These data suggest that CD19 CAR T cell transfer is feasible, tolerable and highly effective in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Mackensen
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Mougiakakos
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Böltz
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Artur Wilhelm
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Aigner
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simon Völkl
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - David Simon
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arnd Kleyer
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Luis Munoz
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sascha Kretschmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Soraya Kharboutli
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Regina Gary
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hannah Reimann
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolf Rösler
- Department of Internal Medicine 5-Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Uderhardt
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Martin Herrmann
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arif Bülent Ekici
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Buettner
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Thomas H Winkler
- Division of Genetics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gerhard Krönke
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georg Schett
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. .,Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
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Auroux M, Laurent B, Coste B, Massy E, Mercier A, Durieu I, Confavreux CB, Lega JC, Mainbourg S, Coury F. Réponse sérologique après vaccination contre le coronavirus chez les patients atteints de rhumatisme inflammatoire chronique traités par DMARDs : étude de cohorte et revue systématique avec méta-analyse. REVUE DU RHUMATISME 2022; 89:435-446. [PMID: 35821910 PMCID: PMC9262649 DOI: 10.1016/j.rhum.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction La vaccination contre le coronavirus constitue l’une des pierres angulaires dans la gestion de la crise sanitaire liée au COVID-19. Alors que la vaccination confère une protection efficace chez les sujets immunocompétents, son immunogénicité dans la population atteinte de rhumatisme inflammatoire chronique (RIC) n’est pas clairement établie. Méthodes Nous avons conduit une étude monocentrique rétrospective évaluant la réponse sérologique après deux doses de vaccination contre le coronavirus chez des patients adultes atteints de RIC et traités par traitements ciblés ou biologiques (n = 123). Les titres d’anticorps IgG dirigés contre la protéine spike du coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) ont été mesurés après la seconde dose de vaccin. De plus, nous avons conduit une recherche systématique jusqu’au 31 septembre 2021 dans les bases de données PUBMED, preprint et littérature grise non encore publiée des études observationnelles des taux sérologiques après vaccination chez des patients atteints de RIC traités par médicaments ciblés ou biologiques (numéro d’enregistrement PROSPERO : CRD42021259410). Les études rapportant la taille d’échantillon, la date, le pays d’origine, le taux de séroconversion ont été incluses. Nous avons ensuite conduit une méta-analyse afin d’identifier des facteurs associés à la séroconversion. Résultats Sur nos 123 patients (âge médian 66 ans écart interquartile (EI) 57–75), 69,9 % ont séroconverti après 2 doses de vaccination. Les patients ayant eu une séroconversion étaient plus âgés que ceux qui n’en ont pas eu. Les patients traités par rituximab sont ceux qui ont le moins répondu à la vaccination. Nous avons identifié 20 études de séroprévalence en plus de notre cohorte, représentant un total de 4423 patients dans 11 pays. La méta-analyse a confirmé un impact négatif sur le taux de séroconversion du rituximab et dans une moindre mesure de l’abatacept, du léflunomide et du méthotrexate. Conclusion Le rituximab diminue la réponse sérologique à la vaccination contre le SARS-Cov2 chez les patients atteints de RIC. Ce travail suggère également un impact négatif de l’abatacept, du méthotrexate ou du léflunomide particulièrement en cas d’association à un médicament biologique.
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IgG-Based Bispecific Anti-CD95 Antibodies for the Treatment of B Cell-Derived Malignancies and Autoimmune Diseases. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163941. [PMID: 36010934 PMCID: PMC9405798 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Therapeutic antibodies have become a crucial cornerstone of the standard therapy for lymphoma and autoimmune diseases. However, the respective target antigens are also expressed on healthy B cells resulting in unspecific effects. In this article, we present a novel approach to selectively induce apoptosis in lymphoma cells and autoreactive B cells that express the CD95 death receptor. Therefore, we developed an improved IgG-based bispecific antibody format with favorable production properties and pharmacokinetics for CD20- and CD19-directed induction of apoptosis via CD95. We could show that our bispecific anti-CD95 antibodies are very efficient in the depletion of malignant and autoreactive B cells in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our antibodies could help to provide a more selective therapy for patients with B cell-derived malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Abstract Antibodies against the B cell-specific antigens CD20 and CD19 have markedly improved the treatment of B cell-derived lymphoma and autoimmune diseases by depleting malignant and autoreactive B cells. However, since CD20 and CD19 are also expressed on healthy B cells, such antibodies lack disease specificity. Here, we optimize a previously developed concept that uses bispecific antibodies to induce apoptosis selectively in malignant and autoreactive B cells that express the death receptor CD95. We describe the development and characterization of bispecific antibodies with CD95xCD20 and CD95xCD19 specificity in a new IgG-based format. We could show that especially the CD95xCD20 antibody mediated a strong induction of apoptosis in malignant B cells in vitro. In vivo, the antibody was clearly superior to the previously used Fabsc format with identical specificities. In addition, both IgGsc antibodies depleted activated B cells in vitro, leading to a significant reduction in antibody production and cytokine secretion. The killing of resting B cells and hepatocytes that lack CD95 and CD20/CD19, respectively, was marginal. Thus, our results imply that bispecific anti-CD95 antibodies in the IgGsc format are an attractive tool for a more selective and efficient depletion of malignant as well as autoreactive B cells.
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30
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Mouat IC, Goldberg E, Horwitz MS. Age-associated B cells in autoimmune diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:402. [PMID: 35798993 PMCID: PMC9263041 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04433-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Age-associated B cells (ABCs) are a transcriptionally and functionally unique B cell population. In addition to arising with age and following infection, ABCs are expanded during autoimmune disease, including those with systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The exact nature of how ABCs impact disease remains unclear. Here, we review what is known regarding ABC development and distribution during diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. We discuss possible mechanisms by which ABCs could contribute to disease, including the production of cytokines and autoantibodies or stimulation of T cells. Finally, we speculate on how ABCs might act as mediators between sex, infection, and autoimmune disease, and discuss avenues for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isobel C Mouat
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin Goldberg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marc S Horwitz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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31
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Dorcet G, Migné H, Biotti D, Bost C, Lerebours F, Ciron J, Treiner E. Early B cells repopulation in multiple sclerosis patients treated with rituximab is not predictive of a risk of relapse or clinical progression. J Neurol 2022; 269:5443-5453. [PMID: 35652942 PMCID: PMC9159933 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11197-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is currently unknown whether early B cell reconstitution (EBR) in MS patients under rituximab is associated with a risk of relapse or progression. OBJECTIVES Analyzing EBR in rituximab-treated patients and its putative association with clinical findings. METHODS Prospective lymphocytes immunophenotyping was performed in a monocentric cohort of MS patients treated by rituximab for 2 years. EBR was defined when B cells concentration was > 5 cells/mm3. B cell subsets were retrospectively associated with clinical data. Clinical and radiological monitoring included relapses, EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), SDMT (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), and MRI. RESULTS 182 patients were analyzed (61 remitting-relapsing and 121 progressive-active). 38.5% experienced EBR at least once, but very few (7/182) showed systematic reconstitution. Most patients remained stable upon treatment, regardless of the occurrence of EBR. Dynamics of B cell reconstitution featured increased naïve/transitional B cells, and decreased memory subsets. Homeostasis of the B cell compartment differed at baseline between patients experiencing or not EBR upon treatment. In patients with EBR, reciprocal dynamics of transitional and pro-inflammatory double-negative B cell subsets was associated with better response to rituximab treatment. CONCLUSION EBR is common in rituximab-treated MS patients and is not associated with clinical disease activity. EBR in the peripheral blood may reflect regulatory immunological phenomena in subgroup of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Dorcet
- Department of Neurology, CRC-SEP, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,INSERM U1291-CNRS 5051, INFINITy, Toulouse, France
| | - Hugo Migné
- Immunology Laboratory, Biology Department, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Damien Biotti
- Department of Neurology, CRC-SEP, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,INSERM U1291-CNRS 5051, INFINITy, Toulouse, France
| | - Chloé Bost
- INSERM U1291-CNRS 5051, INFINITy, Toulouse, France.,Immunology Laboratory, Biology Department, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Fleur Lerebours
- Department of Neurology, CRC-SEP, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jonathan Ciron
- Department of Neurology, CRC-SEP, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,INSERM U1291-CNRS 5051, INFINITy, Toulouse, France
| | - Emmanuel Treiner
- INSERM U1291-CNRS 5051, INFINITy, Toulouse, France. .,Immunology Laboratory, Biology Department, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
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32
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Hojjatipour T, Aslani S, Salimifard S, Mikaeili H, Hemmatzadeh M, Gholizadeh Navashenaq J, Ahangar Parvin E, Jadidi-Niaragh F, Mohammadi H. NK cells - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 107:108682. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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33
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Baker D, MacDougall A, Kang AS, Schmierer K, Giovannoni G, Dobson R. Seroconversion following COVID-19 vaccination: can we optimize protective response in CD20-treated individuals? Clin Exp Immunol 2022; 207:263-271. [PMID: 35553629 PMCID: PMC9113152 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there is an ever-increasing number of disease-modifying treatments for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), few appear to influence coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. There is concern about the use of anti-CD20-depleting monoclonal antibodies, due to the apparent increased risk of severe disease following severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus two (SARS-CoV-2) infection and inhibition of protective anti-COVID-19 vaccine responses. These antibodies are given as maintenance infusions/injections and cause persistent depletion of CD20+ B cells, notably memory B-cell populations that may be instrumental in the control of relapsing MS. However, they also continuously deplete immature and mature/naïve B cells that form the precursors for infection-protective antibody responses, thus blunting vaccine responses. Seroconversion and maintained SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels provide protection from COVID-19. However, it is evident that poor seroconversion occurs in the majority of individuals following initial and booster COVID-19 vaccinations, based on standard 6 monthly dosing intervals. Seroconversion may be optimized in the anti-CD20-treated population by vaccinating prior to treatment onset or using extended/delayed interval dosing (3-6 month extension to dosing interval) in those established on therapy, with B-cell monitoring until (1-3%) B-cell repopulation occurs prior to vaccination. Some people will take more than a year to replete and therefore protection may depend on either the vaccine-induced T-cell responses that typically occur or may require prophylactic, or rapid post-infection therapeutic, antibody or small-molecule antiviral treatment to optimize protection against COVID-19. Further studies are warranted to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of such approaches and whether or not immunity wanes prematurely as has been observed in the other populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Baker
- The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Amy MacDougall
- Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Angray S Kang
- The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Dental Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Klaus Schmierer
- The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Gavin Giovannoni
- The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ruth Dobson
- Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
- Preventive Neurology Unit, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, UK
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Alterations in B- and circulating T-follicular helper cell subsets in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood Adv 2022; 6:3792-3802. [PMID: 35507753 PMCID: PMC9631570 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal B-cell phenotype in acute iTTP with decreased transitional and post–germinal center memory cells and increased plasmablasts. Decreased total and PD1+ circulating T-follicular helper cells and changes in B-cell CD80 expression suggest altered B- and T-cell interactions.
T follicular helper (Tfh) cells regulate development of antigen-specific B-cell immunity. We prospectively investigated B-cell and circulating Tfh (cTfh) cell subsets in 45 patients with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) at presentation and longitudinally after rituximab (RTX). B-cell phenotype was altered at acute iTTP presentation with decreased transitional cells and post–germinal center (post-GC) memory B cells and increased plasmablasts compared with healthy controls. A higher percentage of plasmablasts was associated with higher anti-ADAMTS13 IgG and lower ADAMTS13 antigen levels. In asymptomatic patients with ADAMTS13 relapse, there were increased naïve B cells and a global decrease in memory subsets, with a trend to increased plasmablasts. Total circulating Tfh (CD4+CXCR5+) and PD1+ Tfh cells were decreased at iTTP presentation. CD80 expression was decreased on IgD+ memory cells and double-negative memory cells in acute iTTP. At repopulation after B-cell depletion in de novo iTTP, post-GC and double-negative memory B cells were reduced compared with pre-RTX. RTX did not cause alteration in cTfh cell frequency. The subsequent kinetics of naïve, transitional, memory B cells and plasmablasts did not differ significantly between patients who went on to relapse vs those who remained in remission. In summary, acute iTTP is characterized by dysregulation of B- and cTfh cell homeostasis with depletion of post-GC memory cells and cTfh cells and increased plasmablasts. Changes in CD80 expression on B cells further suggest altered interactions with T cells.
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Serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease treated with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: a cohort study and a systematic review with meta-analysis. Joint Bone Spine 2022; 89:105380. [PMID: 35490940 PMCID: PMC9047516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2022.105380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vaccination is considered as a cornerstone of the management of COVID-19 pandemic. However, while vaccines provide a robust protection in immunocompetent individuals, the immunogenicity in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) is not well established. METHODS A monocentric observational study evaluated the immunogenicity of a two-dose regimen vaccine in adult patients with IRD (n=123) treated with targeted or biological therapies. Serum IgG antibody levels against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike proteins were measured after the second vaccination. In addition, a search for observational studies performed in IRD under biologic or targeted therapies up to September 31, 2021 (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021259410) was undertaken in publication databases, preprint servers, and grey literature sources. Studies that reported sample size, study date, location, and seroprevalence estimate were included. A meta-analysis was conducted to identify demographic differences in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. RESULTS Of 123 patients (median age 66 IQR 57-75), 69.9% have seroconverted after vaccination. Seroconverted patients were older than non-seroconverted ones in our cohort. Rituximab was associated with a significantly low antibody response. Besides, we identified 20 seroprevalence studies in addition to our cohort including 4423 participants in 11 countries. Meta-analysis confirmed a negative impact of rituximab on seroconversion rate and suggested a less substantial effect of abatacept, leflunomide and methotrexate. CONCLUSION Rituximab impairs serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with IRD. This work suggests also a negative impact of abatacept, methotrexate or leflunomide especially when associated to biological therapy.
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Töllner M, Speer C, Benning L, Bartenschlager M, Nusshag C, Morath C, Zeier M, Süsal C, Schnitzler P, Schmitt W, Bergner R, Bartenschlager R, Lorenz HM, Schaier M. Impaired Neutralizing Antibody Activity against B.1.617.2 (Delta) after Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients Receiving Anti-CD20 Therapy. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11061739. [PMID: 35330069 PMCID: PMC8952324 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11061739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: To characterize humoral response after standard anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in Rituximab-treated patients and to determine the optimal time point after last Rituximab treatment for appropriate immunization. Methods: Sixty-four patients who received Rituximab within the last seven years prior to the first anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were recruited in a prospective observational study. Anti-S1 IgG, SARS-CoV-2 specific neutralization, and various SARS-CoV-2 target antibodies were determined. A live virus assay was used to assess neutralizing antibody activity against B.1.617.2 (delta). In Rituximab-treated patients, CD19+ peripheral B-cells were quantified using flow cytometry. Results: After second vaccination, all antibodies were significantly reduced compared to healthy controls. Neutralizing antibody activity against B.1.617.2 (delta) was detectable with a median (IQR) ID50 of 0 (0−1:20) compared to 1:320 (1:160−1:320) in healthy controls (for all p < 0.001). Longer time period since last Rituximab administration correlated with higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and a stronger neutralization of B.1.617.2 (delta). With one exception, only patients with a CD19+ cell proportion ≥ 1% had detectable neutralizing antibodies. Conclusion: Our data indicate that a reconstitution of the B-cell population to >1% seems crucial in developing neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. We suggest that anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination should be administered at least 8−12 months after the last Rituximab treatment for sufficient humoral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Töllner
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Claudius Speer
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit Heidelberg, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Louise Benning
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Marie Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Christian Nusshag
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Christian Morath
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Martin Zeier
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Caner Süsal
- Transplant Immunology Research Center of Excellence, Koç University Hospital, Istanbul 34010, Turkey;
| | - Paul Schnitzler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | | | - Raoul Bergner
- Clinical Center Ludwigshafen, Department of Internal Medicine A, 67036 Ludwigshafen, Germany;
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (M.B.); (R.B.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg Partner Site, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanns-Martin Lorenz
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Matthias Schaier
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (C.S.); (L.B.); (C.N.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (M.S.)
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Seroconversion after COVID-19 vaccination for multiple sclerosis patients on high efficacy disease modifying medications. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 60:103719. [PMID: 35276450 PMCID: PMC8890787 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The impaired ability to mount an effective immune response to vaccination leaves immunosuppressed patients at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate COVID-19 seroconversion and antibody titers for patients on immune modulating therapies compared to those not on disease modifying therapy (DMT). As expected, individuals on B-cell depletion therapies (BCDT) and those on sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) modulators had an impaired humoral response to mRNA vaccination. We observed variable seroconversion depending on the type of B-cell depleting medication, with a smaller percentage of seroconversion in patients on infused BCDT (iBCDT, ocrelizumab and rituximab) compared to ofatumumab. The humoral response to vaccination was not impaired for individuals on natalizumab or for untreated MS patients. These observations may influence DMT selection during the COVID-19 era.
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Bartalena L, Piantanida E, Gallo D, Ippolito S, Tanda ML. Management of Graves' hyperthyroidism: present and future. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2022; 17:153-166. [PMID: 35287535 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2022.2052044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder due to loss of tolerance to the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) and ultimately caused by stimulatory TSHR antibodies (TSHR-Ab). GD may be associated with extrathyroidal manifestations, mainly Graves' orbitopathy. Treatment of GD relies on antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine (RAI), thyroidectomy. The major ATD limitation is the high recurrence rate after treatment. The major drawback of RAI and thyroidectomy is the inevitable development of permanent hypothyroidism. AREAS COVERED Original articles, clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses from 1980 to 2021 were searched using the following terms: Graves' disease, management of Graves' disease, antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, thyroidectomy, Graves' orbitopathy, thyroid-eye disease. EXPERT OPINION ATDs are the first-line treatment worldwide, are overall safe and usually given for 18-24 months, long-term treatment may decrease relapses. RAI is safe, although associated with a low risk of GO progression, particularly in smokers. Thyroidectomy requires skilled and high-volume surgeons. Patients play a central role in the choice of treatment within a shared decision-making process. Results from targeted therapies acting on different steps of the autoimmune process, including iscalimab, ATX-GD-59, rituximab, blocking TSHR-Ab, small molecules acting as antagonists of the TSHR, are preliminary or preclinical, but promising in medium-to-long perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Bartalena
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Eliana Piantanida
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Daniela Gallo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Silvia Ippolito
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Tanda
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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Barone M, Venerito V, Paolillo R, Emmi G, Fornaro M, Cacciapaglia F, Cantarini L, Di Leo A, Iannone F, Lopalco G. Long-term safety of rituximab in rheumatic patients with previously resolved hepatitis B virus infection. Intern Emerg Med 2022; 17:475-480. [PMID: 34476737 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-021-02836-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Conflicting results can be found in the literature on the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation (HBVr) on rituximab (RTX) in rheumatic patients with previously resolved HBV (prHBV) infection. Here, we report the frequency of HBVr in a large historical cohort of caucasian rheumatic patients with prHBV receiving RTX. Registry data of rheumatic patients treated with RTX were retrospectively analysed. Demographic and clinical characteristics including evaluation of anti-HCV and HBV markers, annual HBV-DNA determination and aminotransferase levels assessed every three months, were recorded. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to compare the risk of being still under therapy at different time points in patients with or without prHBV infection. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the association between recorded variables and treatment discontinuation. A total of 311 patients treated with RTX, 44 (14.1%) with and 267 (85.9%) without prHBV were analysed. No significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic and clinical characteristics was observed. During RTX treatment, detectable HBV-DNA and reappearance of HBsAg in patients with prHBV (seroreversion) were never observed. Kaplan-Meier functions were similar in patients with or without prHBV infection which was not associated with RTX discontinuation neither at univariate nor at multivariate analysis. These data are in favor of the concept that patients with rheumatologic diseases have a very low risk of reactivation of the HBV infection under RTX treatment. However, future prospective studies, including a larger number of patients, are still necessary to draw definitive conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Barone
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Venerito
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Paolillo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giacomo Emmi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Fornaro
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabio Cacciapaglia
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Luca Cantarini
- Rheumatology Unit, Department Research Center of Systemic Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Diseases, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alfredo Di Leo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Florenzo Iannone
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lopalco
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
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Arnold J, Vital EM, Dass S, Aslam A, Rawstron AC, Savic S, Emery P, Md Yusof MY. A Personalized Rituximab Retreatment Approach Based on Clinical and B-Cell Biomarkers in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis. Front Immunol 2022; 12:803175. [PMID: 35095887 PMCID: PMC8789753 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.803175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Time to relapse after rituximab for the treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is variable, and optimal retreatment strategy has remained unclear. In AAV following rituximab induction, the study objective was to evaluate clinical and B-cell predictors of relapse in order to develop a retreatment algorithm. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted in 70 rituximab-treated ANCA-associated vasculitis patients followed up for over 10 years. Complete response (CR) was defined as Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score v3.0 = 0. Retreatment was given on clinical relapse, defined as new features or worsening of persistent disease (not by biomarker status). Peripheral B-cell subsets were measured using highly sensitive flow cytometry. Predictors were tested using multivariable Cox regression. Results Median time to retreatment for cycles 1–5 were 84, 73, 67, 60, and 73 weeks. Over 467 patient-years follow-up, 158 relapses occurred in 60 patients; 16 (in 15 patients) were major (renal = 7, neurological = 4, ENT = 3, and respiratory = 2). The major-relapse rate was 3.4/100 patient-years. In multivariable analysis, concomitant immunosuppressant [HR, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.24–0.94)], achieving CR [0.24 (0.12–0.50)], and naïve B-cell repopulation at 6 months [0.43 (0.22–0.84)] were associated with longer time to relapse. Personalized retreatment using these three predictors in this cohort would have avoided an unnecessary fixed retreatment in 24% of patients. Area under the receiver operating characteristic for prediction of time to relapse was greater if guided by naïve B-cell repopulation than if previously evaluated ANCA and/or CD19+ cells return at 6 months had been used, 0.82 and 0.53, respectively. Conclusion Our findings suggest that all patients should be coprescribed oral immunosuppressant. Those with incomplete response or with absent naïve B cells should be retreated at 6 months. Patients with complete response and naïve repopulation should not receive fixed retreatment. This algorithm could reduce unnecessary retreatment and warrant investigation in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Arnold
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Edward M Vital
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Shouvik Dass
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Aamir Aslam
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Andy C Rawstron
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Sinisa Savic
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Emery
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
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AbdelRazek MA, Casasola M, Mollashahi R, Brodski A, Morin S, Augustynowicz A, Jassim S, Matiello M, Sloane J. Extended B-cell depletion beyond 6-months in patients receiving ocrelizumab or rituximab for CNS demyelinating disease. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 59:103505. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Kim Y, Kim SY, Han SM, Payumo RM, Park K, Kim HE, Kim SH, Hyun JW, Lee E, Kim HJ. Functional impairment of CD19 +CD24 hiCD38 hi B cells in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is restored by B cell depletion therapy. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabk2132. [PMID: 34910550 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abk2132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeseul Kim
- Division of Clinical Research, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea.,Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03772, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - So Yeon Kim
- Division of Clinical Research, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Sang-Min Han
- Division of Clinical Research, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Rosah May Payumo
- Division of Clinical Research, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Kevin Park
- Division of Clinical Research, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Ha Eun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Su-Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Jae-Won Hyun
- Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
| | - Eunjig Lee
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03772, Korea
| | - Ho Jin Kim
- Division of Clinical Research, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea.,Department of Neurology, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Korea
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Schulz E, Hodl I, Forstner P, Hatzl S, Sareban N, Moritz M, Fessler J, Dreo B, Uhl B, Url C, Grisold AJ, Khalil M, Kleinhappl B, Enzinger C, Stradner MH, Greinix HT, Schlenke P, Steinmetz I. CD19+IgD+CD27- Naïve B Cells as Predictors of Humoral Response to COVID 19 mRNA Vaccination in Immunocompromised Patients. Front Immunol 2021; 12:803742. [PMID: 34950155 PMCID: PMC8688243 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.803742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunocompromised patients are considered high-risk and prioritized for vaccination against COVID-19. We aimed to analyze B-cell subsets in these patients to identify potential predictors of humoral vaccination response. Patients (n=120) suffering from hematologic malignancies or other causes of immunodeficiency and healthy controls (n=79) received a full vaccination series with an mRNA vaccine. B-cell subsets were analyzed prior to vaccination. Two independent anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassays targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) or trimeric S protein (TSP) were performed three to four weeks after the second vaccination. Seroconversion occurred in 100% of healthy controls, in contrast to 67% (RBD) and 82% (TSP) of immunocompromised patients, while only 32% (RBD) and 22% (TSP) achieved antibody levels comparable to those of healthy controls. The number of circulating CD19+IgD+CD27- naïve B cells was strongly associated with antibody levels (ρ=0.761, P<0.001) and the only independent predictor for achieving antibody levels comparable to healthy controls (OR 1.07 per 10-µL increase, 95%CI 1.02-1.12, P=0.009). Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a cut-off at ≥61 naïve B cells per µl to discriminate between patients with and without an optimal antibody response. Consequently, measuring of naïve B cells in immunocompromised hematologic patients could be useful in predicting their humoral vaccination response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Schulz
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Isabel Hodl
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Patrick Forstner
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Hatzl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Nazanin Sareban
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Martina Moritz
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Johannes Fessler
- Institute of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Barbara Dreo
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Barbara Uhl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Claudia Url
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andrea J. Grisold
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Barbara Kleinhappl
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Martin H. Stradner
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Hildegard T. Greinix
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Schlenke
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Ivo Steinmetz
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Carsetti R, Corrente F, Capponi C, Mirabella M, Cascioli S, Palomba P, Bertaina V, Pagliara D, Colucci M, Piano Mortari E. Comprehensive phenotyping of human peripheral blood B lymphocytes in pathological conditions. Cytometry A 2021; 101:140-149. [PMID: 34851033 PMCID: PMC9299869 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.24518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Several diseases are associated with alterations of the B-cell compartment. Knowing how to correctly identify by flow cytometry the distribution of B-cell populations in the peripheral blood is important to help in the early diagnosis. In the accompanying article we describe how to identify the different B-cell subsets in the peripheral blood of healthy donors. Here we show a few examples of diseases that cause dysregulation of the B-cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Carsetti
- Diagnostic Immunology Research Unit, Multimodal Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Corrente
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Capponi
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Mirabella
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Cascioli
- Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Palomba
- Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Bertaina
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cell Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Daria Pagliara
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cell Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Colucci
- Renal Diseases Research Unit, Genetic and Rare Diseases Division, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Eva Piano Mortari
- Diagnostic Immunology Research Unit, Multimodal Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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45
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Immunosuppression in Rheumatologic and Auto-immune Disease. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 272:181-208. [PMID: 34734308 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Many rheumatologic diseases are thought to originate in dysregulation of the immune system; lupus nephritis, for example, involves humoral immunity, while autoinflammatory diseases such as familial Mediterranean fever are caused by defects in innate immunity. Of note, this dysregulation may involve both upregulation of immune system components and aspects of immunodeficiency. Treatment of rheumatologic diseases thus requires a familiarity with a variety of immunosuppressive medications and their effects on immune system function.In many rheumatologic conditions, due to an incompletely elucidated mechanism of disease, immunosuppression is relatively broad in contrast to agents used, for example, in treatment of transplant rejection. Multiple immunosuppressive drugs may also be used in succession or in combination. As such, an understanding of the mechanisms and targets of immunosuppressive drugs is essential to appreciating their utility and potential adverse effects. Because of the overlap between therapies used in rheumatologic as well as other inflammatory disorders, some of these medications are discussed in other disease processes (e.g., Immunosuppression for inflammatory bowel disease) or in greater detail in other chapters of this textbook (corticosteroids, mTOR inhibitors, antiproliferative agents).
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46
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Semchenkova A, Zhogov V, Rudneva A, Potapenko L, Plyasunova S, Miakova N, Samochatova E, Maschan A, Popov A. Immune reconstitution following rituximab-based immunochemotherapy in pediatric patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Leuk Lymphoma 2021; 63:217-221. [PMID: 34727822 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1998486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Semchenkova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Zhogov
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Anastassia Rudneva
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Liudmila Potapenko
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Svetlana Plyasunova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Natalia Miakova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Samochatova
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey Maschan
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander Popov
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
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47
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Szepanowski F, Warnke C, Meyer Zu Hörste G, Mausberg AK, Hartung HP, Kleinschnitz C, Stettner M. Secondary Immunodeficiency and Risk of Infection Following Immune Therapies in Neurology. CNS Drugs 2021; 35:1173-1188. [PMID: 34657228 PMCID: PMC8520462 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-021-00863-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Secondary immunodeficiencies (SIDs) are acquired conditions that may occur as sequelae of immune therapy. In recent years a number of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) has been approved for multiple sclerosis and related disorders such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, some of which are frequently also used in- or off-label to treat conditions such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), myasthenia gravis, myositis, and encephalitis. In this review, we focus on currently available immune therapeutics in neurology to explore their specific modes of action that might contribute to SID, with particular emphasis on their potential to induce secondary antibody deficiency. Considering evidence from clinical trials as well as long-term observational studies related to the patients' immune status and risks of severe infections, we delineate long-term anti-CD20 therapy, with the greatest data availability for rituximab, as a major risk factor for the development of SID, particularly through secondary antibody deficiency. Alemtuzumab and cladribine have relevant effects on circulating B-cell counts; however, evidence for SID mediated by antibody deficiency appears limited and urgently warrants further systematic evaluation. To date, there has been no evidence suggesting that treatment with fingolimod, dimethyl fumarate, or natalizumab leads to antibody deficiency. Risk factors predisposing to development of SID include duration of therapy, increasing age, and pre-existing low immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. Prevention strategies of SID comprise awareness of risk factors, individualized treatment protocols, and vaccination concepts. Immune supplementation employing Ig replacement therapy might reduce morbidity and mortality associated with SIDs in neurological conditions. In light of the broad range of existing and emerging therapies, the potential for SID warrants urgent consideration among neurologists and other healthcare professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Szepanowski
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Clemens Warnke
- Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Anne K Mausberg
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Neurology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Christoph Kleinschnitz
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark Stettner
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Medicine Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
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48
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Tovanabutra N, Bax CE, Feng R, Kushner CJ, Payne AS. Temporal outcomes after rituximab therapy for pemphigus vulgaris. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:1058-1064.e7. [PMID: 34710389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disease characterized by autoantibodies that target desmoglein adhesion proteins. Rituximab and corticosteroids are FDA-approved therapies for pemphigus vulgaris. As newer treatments for pemphigus enter clinical trials, analysis of clinical and serologic outcomes after rituximab therapy as a function of time is essential to guide clinical trial design. Here, we report detailed temporal and serological outcomes of rituximab treatment of pemphigus vulgaris. The maximal prevalence of complete remission off oral systemic therapy after a single cycle of rituximab was 32.4% at 12 months, or 43.1% by 36 months including additional rituximab cycles. Using receiver operating characteristic curves to develop prediction models for complete remission after a single cycle of rituximab, >90.7% reduction in average desmoglein 3 ELISA titers from baseline to months 3-9 was 94% sensitive, and an average absolute titer ≤130 RU/mL between months 3-9 was 96% specific, for achievement of complete remission off oral systemic therapy. All patients with negative titers at 6-9 months ultimately achieved complete remission off oral systemic therapy. This dataset of clinical and serological outcomes for pemphigus vulgaris patients after rituximab therapy will facilitate clinical trial planning and also guide clinician and patient expectations after rituximab therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Napatra Tovanabutra
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Christina E Bax
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Rui Feng
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Carolyn J Kushner
- Department of Dermatology, New York University Langone Health, New York City, USA
| | - Aimee S Payne
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
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49
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Fribourg M, Cioni M, Ghiggeri G, Cantarelli C, Leventhal JS, Budge K, Bin S, Riella LV, Colucci M, Vivarelli M, Angeletti A, Perin L, Cravedi P. CyTOF-Enabled Analysis Identifies Class-Switched B Cells as the Main Lymphocyte Subset Associated With Disease Relapse in Children With Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome. Front Immunol 2021; 12:726428. [PMID: 34621271 PMCID: PMC8490633 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.726428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
B cell depleting therapies permit immunosuppressive drug withdrawal and maintain remission in patients with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) or steroid–dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS), but lack of biomarkers for treatment failure. Post-depletion immune cell reconstitution may identify relapsing patients, but previous characterizations suffered from methodological limitations of flow cytometry. Time-of-flight mass cytometry (CyTOF) is a comprehensive analytic modality that simultaneously quantifies over 40 cellular markers. Herein, we report CyTOF-enabled immune cell comparisons over a 12-month period from 30 children with SDNS receiving B cell depleting therapy who either relapsed (n = 17) or remained stable (n = 13). Anti-CD20 treatment depleted all B cells subsets and CD20 depleting agent choice (rituximab vs ofatumumab) did not affect B cell subset recovery. Despite equal total numbers of B cells, 5 subsets of B cells were significantly higher in relapsing individuals; all identified subsets of B cells were class-switched. T cell subsets (including T follicular helper cells and regulatory T cells) and other major immune compartments were largely unaffected by B cell depletion, and similar between relapsing and stable children. In conclusion, CyTOF analysis of immune cells from anti-CD20 antibody treated patients identifies class-switched B cells as the main subset whose expansion associates with disease relapse. Our findings set the basis for future studies exploring how identified subsets can be used to monitor treatment response and improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Fribourg
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michela Cioni
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - GianMarco Ghiggeri
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Cantarelli
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Università di Parma, Unitá Operativa (UO) Nefrologia, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Jeremy S Leventhal
- Division of Nephrology, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Kelly Budge
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sofia Bin
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Leonardo V Riella
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Division of Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Manuela Colucci
- Renal Diseases Research Unit, Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Vivarelli
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeletti
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Perin
- Gabriel Organization for All Renal Research (GOFARR) Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Urology, Saban Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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50
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Ravani P, Colucci M, Bruschi M, Vivarelli M, Cioni M, DiDonato A, Cravedi P, Lugani F, Antonini F, Prunotto M, Emma F, Angeletti A, Ghiggeri GM. Human or Chimeric Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibodies for Children with Nephrotic Syndrome: A Superiority Randomized Trial. J Am Soc Nephrol 2021; 32:2652-2663. [PMID: 34544820 PMCID: PMC8722811 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021040561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is effective in steroid-dependent and calcineurin inhibitor-dependent forms of nephrotic syndrome, but many patients relapse at 1 year. Because ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has a more extended binding site and higher affinity to CD20 compared with rituximab, it might offer superior efficacy in these patients. METHODS We designed a single-center randomized clinical trial to compare the long-term efficacy of ofatumumab versus rituximab in children and young adults with nephrotic syndrome maintained in remission with prednisone and calcineurin inhibitors. We randomized 140 children and young adults (aged 2-24 years) to receive intravenous ofatumumab (1.50 mg/1.73 m2) or rituximab (375 mg/m2). After infusions, oral drugs were tapered and withdrawn within 60 days. The primary outcome was relapse at 1 year, which was analyzed following the intent-to-treat principle. The secondary endpoint was relapse within 24 months from infusion, on the basis of urine dipstick and confirmed by a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio <200. RESULTS At 12 months, 37 of 70 (53%) participants who received ofatumumab experienced relapse versus 36 of 70 (51%) who received rituximab (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.55 to 2.06). At 24 months, 53 of 70 (76%) participants who received ofatumumab experienced relapse, versus 46 of 70 (66%) who received rituximab (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.8 to 3.3). The two groups exhibited comparable B cell subpopulation reconstitution and did not differ in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of ofatumumab was not superior to a single dose of rituximab in maintaining remission in children with steroid-dependent and calcineurin inhibitor-dependent nephrotic syndrome. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02394119) and https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search (2015-000624-28).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Ravani
- Division of Nephrology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Manuela Colucci
- Renal Diseases Research Unit, Genetics and Rare Diseases Division, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Bruschi
- Laboratory on Molecular Nephrology, Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marina Vivarelli
- Division of Nephrology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Cioni
- Laboratory on Molecular Nephrology, Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy
| | - Armando DiDonato
- Laboratory on Molecular Nephrology, Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Francesca Lugani
- Laboratory on Molecular Nephrology, Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Antonini
- Core Facilities, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto G. Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Prunotto
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Emma
- Division of Nephrology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeletti
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Ghiggeri
- Laboratory on Molecular Nephrology, Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy,Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, Istituto Giannina Gaslini Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Genoa, Italy
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