A single dose of rituximab does not deplete B cells in secondary lymphoid organs but alters phenotype and function
Publication year
2013Source
American Journal of Transplantation, 13, 6, (2013), pp. 1503-1511ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Nephrology
Laboratory of Medical Immunology
Journal title
American Journal of Transplantation
Volume
vol. 13
Issue
iss. 6
Page start
p. 1503
Page end
p. 1511
Subject
N4i 4: Auto-immunity, transplantation and immunotherapy NCMLS 2: Immune Regulation; NCMLS 2: Immune Regulation N4i 4: Auto-immunity, transplantation and immunotherapyAbstract
A single dose of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab induces a nearly complete B cell depletion in peripheral blood, but not in secondary lymphoid organs. Modulation of this remaining B cell population due to rituximab treatment may contribute to the therapeutic effects of rituximab. To assess the in vivo effects of rituximab we used lymph nodes (LNs) collected during renal transplant surgery in patients who had received rituximab 4 weeks earlier in preparation for an ABO-incompatible transplantation. Rituximab treatment resulted in a lower percentage of naive (IgD(+) CD27(-) ) and a higher percentage of switched memory (IgD(-) CD27(+) ) B cells. Remarkably, transitional (CD24(++) CD38(++) ) B cells were virtually lacking in the LNs of rituximab-treated patients. Moreover, LN-derived B cells from rituximab-treated patients produced different amounts of various Ig-subclasses after anti-CD40/IL-21 stimulation ex vivo. Finally, after stimulation of allogeneic T cells with LN-derived B cells from rituximab-treated patients, the proliferated T cells showed a decreased production of IL-17. In conclusion, after treatment with rituximab there remains a B cell population with different functional capacities. Consequently, the effect of rituximab on the immune response will not only be determined by the extent of B cell depletion, but also by the functional properties of the remaining B cells.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [202914]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [80065]
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