Efficient long-term depletion of CD20+ B cells by rituximab does not affect gut-resident plasma cells.

ABSTRACT: The vast majority of antibody-producing B cells are located within the gastrointestinal tract and are key players in maintaining homeostasis. The failure of rituximab, a potent B cell-depleting agent, to ameliorate ulcerative colitis in a single clinical trial has dampened enthusiasm to study B cells in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, several lines of evidence suggest that intestinal B cells may be affected in IBD. Additionally, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying rituximab's lack of efficacy in IBD remain unclear. Here, on the basis of detailed immunophenotyping of a patient who underwent a colonoscopy 6 months after the end of rituximab-based therapy, we observed that rituximab did not deplete colon-resident plasma cells (PCs) while ablating all CD20+ B

SUBMITTER: Uzzan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6368409 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature