Delayed B cell repopulation after rituximab treatment in multiple sclerosis patients with expanded adaptive natural killer cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The aim was to evaluate whether adaptive NKG2C+ natural killer (NK) cells, characterized by enhanced antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC), may influence time to B cell repopulation after rituximab treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of MS patients treated with rituximab monitoring peripheral B cells for repeated doses. B cell repopulation was defined as CD19+ cells above 2% of total lymphocytes, classifying cases according to the median time of B cell repopulation as early or late (≤9 months, >9 months, respectively). Basal NK cell immunophenotype and in vitro ADCC responses induced by rituximab were assessed by flow cytometry.

Results

B cell repopulation in 38 patients (24 rel

SUBMITTER: Moreira A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9310749 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature