Circulating levels of B lymphocyte stimulator in patients with rheumatoid arthritis following rituximab treatment: relationships with B cell depletion, circulating antibodies, and clinical relapse

Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Mar;54(3):723-32. doi: 10.1002/art.21650.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of B lymphocyte depletion on serum B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS; trademark of Human Genome Sciences, Rockville, MD) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to assess the relationship of serum BLyS levels with peripheral blood B cell depletion, levels of autoantibodies and antimicrobial antibodies, the return of peripheral blood B cells, and clinical relapse.

Methods: Fifteen patients with active RA underwent rituximab-based B cell depletion therapy (BCDT). Disease activity was assessed clinically, peripheral blood CD19+ B cell counts were determined by flow cytometry, and serum levels of BLyS, IgM, IgA, and IgG rheumatoid factors (RFs), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, and antimicrobial antibodies were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: Peripheral blood B cell depletion was achieved in all 15 patients, and an American College of Rheumatology 20% response was achieved in 13 patients. Following clinical relapse, 7 patients underwent at least 1 additional cycle of BCDT. In every case, serum BLyS levels markedly rose post-BCDT and remained elevated for at least 1-2 months. Serum levels of RF, but not those of anti-tetanus toxoid or anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibodies, fell significantly. A decline in serum BLyS levels was associated with the reemergence of B cells in peripheral blood, which, in turn, antedated clinical relapse by variable periods of time. The patterns of B cell depletion, serum BLyS and antibody levels, and clinical relapse for each BCDT cycle were remarkably similar in re-treated patients.

Conclusion: Rituximab-based BCDT leads to marked increases in serum BLyS levels. This may contribute significantly to the survival and/or regeneration of B cell populations capable of triggering clinical relapse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies / blood*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antigens, CD19 / analysis
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / blood*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Depletion* / methods
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Rheumatoid Factor / blood
  • Rituximab
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antigens, CD19
  • Autoantibodies
  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • Membrane Proteins
  • TNFSF13B protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Rituximab
  • Rheumatoid Factor