Vedolizumab, a monoclonal antibody to the gut homing α4β7 integrin, does not affect cerebrospinal fluid T-lymphocyte immunophenotype

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 264; no. 1; pp. 123 - 126
• Main Authors: Milch, Catherine, Wyant, Tim, Xu, Jing, Parikh, Asit, Kent, Whitney, Fox, Irving, Berger, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.11.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Allergy and Immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - blood; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - pharmacology; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cerebrospinal Fluid - cytology; Female; Humans; Immune surveillance; Inflammatory bowel disease; Integrins - immunology; Male; Neurology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Vedolizumab; Young Adult; Inflammatory bowel disease; Immune surveillance; Vedolizumab; Cerebrospinal fluid
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2013.08.011

Abstract Vedolizumab, a gut-homing α4 β7 integrin antagonist, has demonstrated efficacy in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a serious brain infection associated with natalizumab (an α4 β7 and α4 β1 integrin antagonist), has raised concern that vedolizumab may convey a similar risk. Natalizumab is believed to impair central nervous system immune surveillance by affecting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocyte counts and the CD4:CD8 ratio. To determine if vedolizumab elicits similar effects, we examined CSF of healthy volunteers by flow cytometry for T-lymphocyte surface markers 5 weeks after administration of intravenous vedolizumab 450 mg. No significant changes were observed in CSF T-lymphocyte populations.