Disparity in peripheral and renal B-cell depletion with rituximab in systemic lupus erythematosus: an opportunity for obinutuzumab?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To investigate key factors that may contribute to the variability of rituximab-mediated peripheral and renal B cell depletion (BCD) in SLE.

Methods

We analysed: (i) CD19+ B cell counts in patients with SLE before and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after treatment with rituximab, comparing them with RA patients; (ii) the presence of B cells in renal biopsies after rituximab therapy; (iii) whether the duration of BCD correlated with patient demographics and B cell expression of CD20 and FcγRIIb; and (iv) the effect of B cell activation factor (BAFF) on the efficiency of rituximab and obinutuzumab at inducing BCD in whole blood assays, in vitro.

Results

In SLE (n = 71), the duration of BCD was shorter compared with RA (n = 27). B cells were detectable in renal biopsy sa

SUBMITTER: Reddy VR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9258539 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature