Interleukin-10 producing-B cells and their association with responsiveness to rituximab in myasthenia gravis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

A subset of regulatory B cells in humans and mice has been defined functionally by their ability to produce interleukin (IL)-10. We characterized IL-10-producing B (B10) cells in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and correlated them with disease activity and responsiveness to rituximab therapy.

METHODS:

Frequencies of B10 cells from MG patients and healthy controls were monitored by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

RESULTS:

MG patients had fewer B10 cells than controls, which was associated with more severe disease status. Moreover, patients who responded well to rituximab therapy exhibited rapid repopulation of B10 cells, whereas in patients who did not respond well to rituximab, B10 cell repopulation was delayed. The kinetics of B10 cells were related to the responsiveness to rituximab in MG.

CONCLUSIONS:

We have characterized a specific subset of B10 cells in MG patients which may serve as a marker for disease activity and responsiveness to immune therapy.

• Authors: Feng Sun, Shafeeq S Ladha, Li Yang, Qiang Liu, Samuel Xiang-Yu Shi, Ning Su, Roberto Bomprezzi, Fu-Dong Shi
• Journal: Muscle & nerve (Muscle Nerve) Vol. 49 Issue 4 Pg. 487-94 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 1097-4598 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23868194 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Published 2013 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Biomarkers
• IL10 protein, human
• Immunologic Factors
• Interleukin-10
• Rituximab

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• B-Lymphocytes (drug effects, metabolism)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Interleukin-10 (biosynthesis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myasthenia Gravis (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Prospective Studies
• Rituximab
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult