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Prete M, Leone P, Frassanito MA, Desantis V, Marasco C, Cicco S, Dammacco F, Vacca A, Racanelli V. Belimumab restores Treg/Th17 balance in patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2018; 27:1926-1935. [PMID: 30180771 DOI: 10.1177/0961203318797425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Belimumab, a specific inhibitor of the soluble B lymphocyte stimulator (BlyS), is the first biological drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) refractory to standard therapy. Given that an imbalance between regulatory T cells (Treg) and interleukin (IL)-17A-secreting T cells (Th17) has been reported in various autoimmune disorders, we assessed the frequency of both Treg and Th17 peripheral blood populations before and after belimumab administration in 20 patients with active SLE refractory to standard therapy. After six months of treatment, the mean SELENA-SLEDAI score as well as the mean anti-double-stranded DNA antibody titers were significantly decreased. In addition, we observed a significant increase in Treg percentages and a parallel, significant decrease in Th17 percentages, accompanied by significantly reduced serum levels of IL-21. In vitro studies showed that Treg purified from belimumab-treated patients were fully functional and displayed a suppressor function similar to that of Treg purified from healthy donors. Belimumab can restore Treg/Th17 balance in SLE patients with uncontrolled disease activity, and this results in decreased flare rate and reduced glucocorticoid dosage.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Prete
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - P Leone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - M A Frassanito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - V Desantis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - C Marasco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - S Cicco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - F Dammacco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - A Vacca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - V Racanelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Unit of Internal Medicine "Guido Baccelli", University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
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Lu P, Fleischmann R, Curtis C, Ignatenko S, Clarke SH, Desai M, Wong SL, Grebe KM, Black K, Zeng J, Stolzenbach J, Medema JK. Safety and pharmacodynamics of venetoclax (ABT-199) in a randomized single and multiple ascending dose study in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2017; 27:290-302. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203317719334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Lu
- AbbVie Inc., Worcester, USA
| | - R Fleischmann
- Metroplex Clinical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - C Curtis
- Compass Research Center, Orlando, USA
| | - S Ignatenko
- Charité Research Organisation, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - M Desai
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, USA
| | - S L Wong
- AbbVie Biotherapeutics Inc., Redwood City, USA
| | | | | | - J Zeng
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, USA
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Hui-Yuen JS, Nguyen SC, Askanase AD. Targeted B cell therapies in the treatment of adult and pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2017; 25:1086-96. [PMID: 27497253 DOI: 10.1177/0961203316652491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Belimumab (Benlysta) is a fully-humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-lymphocyte stimulator (also known as B cell activating factor) and was approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration and European Medicines Evaluation Agency for treatment in adults with autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Rituximab (Rituxan) is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody targeting B lymphocytes. This review discusses the key findings of the phase III trials in adults with SLE and of real-world use of belimumab and rituximab in the care of both adult and pediatric SLE patients. It highlights the safety profile of belimumab and rituximab and gives insight into the consideration of these therapies for specific SLE disease states. It concludes with a discussion of the current clinical trials investigating B cell therapies in specific SLE disease states and a look to the future, with ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Hui-Yuen
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children Medical Center, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, USA
| | - S C Nguyen
- Division of Rheumatology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, USA
| | - A D Askanase
- Division of Rheumatology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, USA
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Gatto M, Saccon F, Zen M, Bettio S, Iaccarino L, Punzi L, Doria A. Success and failure of biological treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus: A critical analysis. J Autoimmun 2016; 74:94-105. [PMID: 27373904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Patients affected with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) still display increased mortality and decreased quality of life in respect to general population. The major determinant of poor long term prognosis is organ damage, which is predictive of more damage and death. Damage is in turn triggered by uncontrolled disease activity and especially by the long-standing corticosteroid use which often accompanies SLE patients over their disease course, owing both to the need of reaching disease remission and to the habit of keeping patients on a small steroid dose for an indefinite period of time. Hence, the need for new drugs and therapeutic strategies aiming at minimizing damage accrual through a better control of disease activity and a steroid-sparing potential is paramount. So far, however, the therapeutic strategy in SLE requires a multitarget approach which is not devoid of widespread immunesuppression. In fact, several studies have been carried out in recent years targeting both the adaptive and the innate immune system, the majority of which did not achieve their primary endpoint, being often divergent from successful clinical experience and thereby committing physician to off-label use of targeted therapies in face of refractory SLE manifestations. The study designs and the chosen endpoints were often blamed for inadequacy, being at least in part responsible for study failures. In this review, we go over major clinical trials conducted in SLE by analyzing any critical aspects related to study design, predefined endpoints and biological activity of novel compounds that may have hampered study outcome, despite the great effort of providing less toxic drugs within a targeted, pathogenic-based approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariele Gatto
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Saccon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy
| | - Margherita Zen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvano Bettio
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Iaccarino
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Punzi
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35123, Padova, Italy.
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Chiche L, Jourde-Chiche N, Retornaz F, Cornec D. From BLISS to ILLUMINATE studies: “Blys repetita placent”?: Table 1. Ann Rheum Dis 2015; 75:e10. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Zollars E, Bienkowska J, Czerkowicz J, Allaire N, Ranger AM, Magder L, Petri M. BAFF (B cell activating factor) transcript level in peripheral blood of patients with SLE is associated with same-day disease activity as well as global activity over the next year. Lupus Sci Med 2015; 2:e000063. [PMID: 26113988 PMCID: PMC4477150 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2014-000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Quantitating gene expression is a potential method of developing biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Because of the known pathological role of B cell activating factor (BAFF) in SLE, we explored the association between BAFF gene expression and clinical activity in SLE. Methods A total of 275 patients with SLE completed this phase of a prospective observational study. At entry into the study, the BAFF gene expression levels were determined in peripheral blood RNA. Serum concentration of BAFF protein was also measured. We then determined clinical associations with SLE disease history, SLE activity on the same day and SLE activity over the course of the next year. Results Elevated BAFF gene expression was associated with a history of more leucopenia and serologically with more autoantibodies (anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, anti-Ro, anti-La and anti-RNP) and low complement. Patients with higher amounts of BAFF transcript had higher measured levels of clinical disease activity. Initial high levels of BAFF gene expression also predicted increased disease activity over the course of the next year. In contrast, serum concentration of BAFF protein was not strongly associated with same-day global disease activity or with future disease activity. Conclusions BAFF gene expression level is associated with clinical and serological SLE activity on the same day and predictive of clinical activity over the next year. BAFF gene expression is a better measure and predictor of SLE disease activity than the serum BAFF protein level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Zollars
- Division of Rheumatology , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland , USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Laurence Magder
- Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland , Baltimore, Maryland , USA
| | - Michelle Petri
- Division of Rheumatology , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland , USA
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