Rituximab reduces B cells and T cells in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients

• Published in: Journal of neuroimmunology Vol. 180; no. 1; pp. 63 - 70
• Main Authors: Cross, Anne H., Stark, Jennifer L., Lauber, Joanne, Ramsbottom, Michael J., Lyons, Jeri-Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antibody Formation - drug effects; Antibody Formation - immunology; Antigens, CD20 - immunology; Autoantibodies; Autoantibodies - analysis; Autoantibodies - blood; Autoantibodies - immunology; B lymphocytes; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Cerebrospinal Fluid - cytology; Cerebrospinal Fluid - immunology; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Down-Regulation - immunology; Female; Flow Cytometry; Glatiramer Acetate; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - drug effects; Immunity, Cellular - immunology; Immunologic Factors - immunology; Immunologic Factors - pharmacology; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; Immunosuppression - methods; Interferon beta-1a; Interferon beta-1b; Interferon-beta - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - cerebrospinal fluid; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - immunology; Myelin basic protein antibodies; Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies; Myelin Proteins - immunology; Peptides - therapeutic use; Rituximab; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Treatment; Treatment Outcome; Multiple sclerosis; Myelin basic protein antibodies; Treatment; Autoantibodies; B lymphocytes; Rituximab; Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies
• ISSN: 0165-5728; 1872-8421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2006.06.029

Effects of B cell depletion by rituximab, a monoclonal antibody to CD20, were studied in patients with relapsing MS that had not responded optimally to standard immunomodulatory therapies. Flow cytometry demonstrated reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) B cells and T cells in most patients at 6 months post-treatment. ELISAs demonstrated modest reductions in serum antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and myelin basic protein in some subjects. Beta-interferon neutralizing antibodies were reduced in three subjects, but developed anew after treatment in three others, suggesting caution in considering rituximab as a means to eliminate NABs. In summary, rituximab depleted B cells from CSF at 24 weeks after initial treatment, and this B cell depletion was associated with a reduction in CSF T cells as well.