Internalization of rituximab and the efficiency of B Cell depletion in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Rituximab, a type I anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb), induces incomplete B cell depletion in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thus contributing to a poor clinical response. The mechanisms of this resistance remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to determine whether type II mAb are more efficient than type I mAb at depleting B cells from RA and SLE patients, whether internalization influences the efficiency of depletion, and whether Fcγ receptor type IIb (FcγRIIb) and the B cell receptor regulate this internalization process.

Methods

We used an in vitro whole blood B cell-depletion assay to assess the efficiency of depletion, flow cytometry to study cell surface protein expression, and surface fluorescen

SUBMITTER: Reddy V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4737120 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature