B cell receptor repertoire reconstitution in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder receiving B-cell depletion therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), driven by AQP4-IgG-producing B cells, is effectively managed with B cell depletion therapy (BCDT), such as rituximab (RTX). Although BCDT may reset the B cell compartment, its effects on B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire, clonality, isotype distribution, and somatic hypermutation (SHM) remain poorly understood. To examine how BCDT alters BCR features by comparing BCR repertoires between patients with NMOSD treated with RTX and azathioprine (AZA).

Methods

From a prospective cohort, we recruited patients with NMOSD, including those on AZA (n = 11) and those 6-12 months post-RTX treatment (n = 9). Immunoglobulin heavy-chain libraries were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and sequenced using Illumina MiSe

SUBMITTER: Kim HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12615372 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature