Modifications of the Transcriptomic Profile of Autoreactive B Cells From Pemphigus Patients After Treatment With Rituximab or a Standard Corticosteroid Regimen.

ABSTRACT: Pemphigus Vulgaris is an autoimmune disease of the skin and mucous membranes, which is due to the production of pathogenic autoantibodies targeting desmoglein (DSG) 1 and 3, which are adhesion proteins of the keratinocytes. Rituximab is an anti-CD20 mAb which induces a prolonged depletion of blood B cells. We recently showed that rituximab was more effective than a standard oral corticosteroid (CS) treatment, allowing 90% of patients to achieve complete remission (CR). Additionally, we showed that DSG-specific-B (DSG positive) cells were still detectable during the B cell recovery which follows the initial rituximab-induced B cell depletion, even in patients in CR. In order to characterize DSG positive B cells in patients in CR after rituximab or CS treatment relative to those detectable a

SUBMITTER: Hebert V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6693356 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature