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Macáková K, Tekeľová M, Mlynáriková V, Šebeková K, Vlková B, Celec P, Šteňová E. Metabolic Effects of Anti-TNF-α Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Diseases 2023; 11:164. [PMID: 37987275 PMCID: PMC10660495 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11040164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with high cardiovascular mortality. It is not clear whether the metabolic consequences of chronic inflammation are involved. Biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are highly efficient in the treatment of inflammation in RA. In this study, we aimed to describe the metabolic effects of anti-TNF-α treatment in RA patients. The clinical status of 16 patients was assessed using disease activity score-28 (DAS28) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Plasma samples were collected before treatment with anti-TNF-α treatment as well as after three and six months of treatment. Markers of lipid and glucose metabolism, as well as renal biomarkers, were assessed using standard biochemistry. ELISA was used for the quantification of insulin, leptin, and adiponectin. Although fasting insulin decreased by 14% at the end of the study, most of the analyzed parameters did not show any statistically or clinically significant dynamics. The exception was total bilirubin and cholesterol, which increased by 53% and 14%, respectively, after six months of treatment with anti-TNF-α treatment. Anti-TNF-α treatment did not induce major metabolic changes despite the strong anti-inflammatory and clinical symptoms of RA. Further studies will show whether longer observations are required for the detection of the metabolic effects of the anti-inflammatory treatment. Additional research is needed to understand the observed effect of bilirubin as an important endogenous antioxidant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristína Macáková
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.M.); (M.T.); (K.Š.); (B.V.)
| | - Mária Tekeľová
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.M.); (M.T.); (K.Š.); (B.V.)
| | | | - Katarína Šebeková
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.M.); (M.T.); (K.Š.); (B.V.)
| | - Barbora Vlková
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.M.); (M.T.); (K.Š.); (B.V.)
| | - Peter Celec
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.M.); (M.T.); (K.Š.); (B.V.)
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Emöke Šteňová
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital, Comenius University, Mickiewiczova 13, 82101 Bratislava, Slovakia;
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Nahra V, Hasbani GE, Chaaya M, Uthman I. The Use of Infliximab (Remicade®) for the Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases at a Tertiary Center in Lebanon: A 17-Year Retrospective Chart Review. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2020; 31:400-405. [PMID: 33521572 PMCID: PMC7841097 DOI: 10.31138/mjr.31.4.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Infliximab (Remicade®) was the first tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) inhibitor to receive its initial marketing approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Crohn’s disease. Following that, infliximab became approved for several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. No evidence exists in the Middle East and North Africa region on the experience with infliximab use over an extended period in terms of efficacy and safety. Methods: The Rheumatology division at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre (AUBMC), one of the largest tertiary centres in the Middle East and North Africa region, has been using infliximab infusions for the treatment of certain rheumatic diseases for around two decades. By reviewing retrospectively medical charts at AUBMC, we investigate indications, safety and efficacy, rate of withdrawals, rate of switching to another biologic, and financial coverage of the drug to present data for practitioners and patients in the region considering infliximab for treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Results: A total of 198 patients were identified in the past 17 years to have taken infliximab. The largest proportion of treated patients had RA. Fourteen percent of the total cohort experienced serious adverse events, with 96.4% of those events being mild hypersensitivity reactions. Five patients withdrew the medication because of infectious complications, 4 of which were cases of tuberculosis reactivation. Despite that, around half of the patients were switched to another biologic agent such anti-TNF-α, anti-CD20, and anti-IL-6 due to partial response, and less than half were receiving add-on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate, 70% of patients who used infliximab only or were switched achieved complete remission at their last hospital information. Around 98% of infliximab users were financially covered. Conclusion: According to our experience, infliximab has made remission and prevention of long-term disability realistic goals of therapy in the Middle East region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Nahra
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Georges El Hasbani
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Monique Chaaya
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Imad Uthman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Failure of anti-TNF treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The pros and cons of the early use of alternative biological agents. Autoimmun Rev 2019; 18:102398. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2019.102398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Brodszky V, Bíró A, Szekanecz Z, Soós B, Baji P, Rencz F, Tóthfalusi L, Gulácsi L, Péntek M. Determinants of biological drug survival in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence from a Hungarian rheumatology center over 8 years of retrospective data. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2017; 9:139-147. [PMID: 28243133 PMCID: PMC5317255 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s124381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To compare drug survival of biological therapies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and analyze the determinants of discontinuation probabilities and switches to other biological therapies. Materials and methods Consecutive RA patients initiating first biological treatment in one rheumatology center between 2006 and 2013 were included. Log-rank test was used to analyze the differences between the survival curves of different biological drugs. Cox regression was applied to analyze the discontinuation due to inefficacy, the occurrence of adverse events, or to any reasons. Results A total of 540 patients were included in the analysis. The most frequently used first-line biological treatments were infliximab (N=176, 33%), adalimumab (N=150, 28%), and etanercept (N=132, 24%). Discontinuation of first tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatment was observed for 347 (64%) patients, due to inefficacy (n=209, 60%), adverse events (n=103, 30%), and other reasons (n=35, 10%). Drug survival rates for TNF-α and non-TNF-α therapies were significantly different, and were in favor of non-TNF-α therapies. Every additional number of treatment significantly increased the risk of inefficacy by 27% (p<0.001) and of adverse events by 35% (p=0.002). After the discontinuation of the initial TNF-α treatment, switching to rituximab and tocilizumab was associated with significantly longer treatment duration than switching to a second TNF-α. The non-TNF-α therapies resulted in significantly longer treatment duration, due to both less adverse events and longer maintenance of effectiveness. Conclusion Non-TNF-α therapies resulted in significantly longer treatment duration, and lost their effectiveness later. Increase in the number of switches significantly increased the risk of discontinuation of any biological therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Brodszky
- Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Bíró
- Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary; School of Economics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zoltán Szekanecz
- Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Medicine, University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Boglárka Soós
- Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Medicine, University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Petra Baji
- Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fanni Rencz
- Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary; Semmelweis University Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Tóthfalusi
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Gulácsi
- Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márta Péntek
- Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Rheumatology, Flór Ferenc County Hospital, Kistarcsa, Hungary
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Clinical guidelines and definitions of autoinflammatory diseases: contrasts and comparisons with autoimmunity-a comprehensive review. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2014; 45:227-35. [PMID: 23322404 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-013-8355-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) and autoimmune diseases (ADs) are characterized by an aberrant chronic activation of the immune system which causes tissue inflammation and damage in genetically predisposed individuals. Pathogenetic mechanisms underlying this damage differ between these two types of diseases; in AIDs, the innate immune system is directly responsible for tissue inflammation, while in ADs it works by activating the adaptive immune system, which becomes the main effector of the inflammatory process. Despite the fact that AIDs have only been recently defined, they are older than ADs. The innate immune system is found in plants and animals, and it developed earlier than the adaptive immune system, which first appeared in jawed vertebrates. According to genetic background and clinical, serological, and radiological findings, AIDs and ADs might be considered as a single spectrum of disorders, with a wide range of manifestations. Indeed, autoinflammatory-like diseases have been reported in simple organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. We analyzed here the main pathogenetic and clinical features of these two groups of diseases mostly dealing with their similarities and differences.
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Abstract
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the presence of autoantibodies such as the rheumatoid factor and antibodies against citrullinated proteins is highly correlated with the severity of disease and bone loss. For many years, the involvement of autoantibodies in bone resorption has merely been attributed to enhanced tissue infiltration and the production of inflammatory cytokines that promote osteoclastogenesis. However, recent research provides evidence for a direct activation of osteoclasts and their precursors by autoantibodies, which is independent of inflammation. The depletion of B-cells with rituximab that substantially reduces autoantibody levels seems to be as effective as the well-established treatment with tumor necrosis factor-antagonists in RA patients that do not respond to methotrexate, highlighting the significance of autoantibodies for RA and bone loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Harre
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany,
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Ritchlin C, Rahman P, Kavanaugh A, McInnes IB, Puig L, Li S, Wang Y, Shen YK, Doyle MK, Mendelsohn AM, Gottlieb AB. Efficacy and safety of the anti-IL-12/23 p40 monoclonal antibody, ustekinumab, in patients with active psoriatic arthritis despite conventional non-biological and biological anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy: 6-month and 1-year results of the phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised PSUMMIT 2 trial. Ann Rheum Dis 2014; 73:990-9. [PMID: 24482301 PMCID: PMC4033144 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 464] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective Assess ustekinumab efficacy (week 24/week 52) and safety (week 16/week 24/week 60) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) despite treatment with conventional and/or biological anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Methods In this phase 3, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial, 312 adults with active PsA were randomised (stratified by site, weight (≤100 kg/>100 kg), methotrexate use) to ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg at week 0, week 4, q12 weeks or placebo at week 0, week 4, week 16 and crossover to ustekinumab 45 mg at week 24, week 28 and week 40. At week 16, patients with <5% improvement in tender/swollen joint counts entered blinded early escape (placebo→45 mg, 45 mg→90 mg, 90 mg→90 mg). The primary endpoint was ≥20% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR20) criteria at week 24. Secondary endpoints included week 24 Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) improvement, ACR50, ACR70 and ≥75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75). Efficacy was assessed in all patients, anti-TNF-naïve (n=132) patients and anti-TNF-experienced (n=180) patients. Results More ustekinumab-treated (43.8% combined) than placebo-treated (20.2%) patients achieved ACR20 at week 24 (p<0.001). Significant treatment differences were observed for week 24 HAQ-DI improvement (p<0.001), ACR50 (p≤0.05) and PASI75 (p<0.001); all benefits were sustained through week 52. Among patients previously treated with ≥1 TNF inhibitor, sustained ustekinumab efficacy was also observed (week 24 combined vs placebo: ACR20 35.6% vs 14.5%, PASI75 47.1% vs 2.0%, median HAQ-DI change −0.13 vs 0.0; week 52 ustekinumab-treated: ACR20 38.9%, PASI75 43.4%, median HAQ-DI change −0.13). No unexpected adverse events were observed through week 60. Conclusions The interleukin-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab (45/90 mg q12 weeks) yielded significant and sustained improvements in PsA signs/symptoms in a diverse population of patients with active PsA, including anti-TNF-experienced PsA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Ritchlin
- Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology Division, University of Rochester Medical Center, , Rochester, New York, USA
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Chang C. Unmet needs in the treatment of autoimmunity: from aspirin to stem cells. Autoimmun Rev 2014; 13:331-46. [PMID: 24462645 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2014.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
As rheumatologic diseases became understood to be autoimmune in nature, the drugs used to treat this group of conditions has evolved from herbal or plant derived anti-inflammatory agents, such as salicylates, quinine and colchicine to the many recently approved biological response modifiers. These new drugs, especially the anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, have shown remarkable efficacy in autoimmune diseases, and there are new agents under investigation that will provide additional treatment options. In between, the world was introduced to cortisone and all of its derivatives, as chemical synthesis led to better, more efficacious drugs with lesser side effects. Disease modifying anti-rheumatic agents have actually been around since the first half of the 20th century, but only began to be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in the 1970s and 1980s. One advantage is that they have been invaluable in their ability to offer "steroid sparing" to decrease the adverse effects of steroids. Research over the past decade has resulted in a new class of drugs that influence cytokine regulatory pathways such as the Janus associated kinase inhibitors. The promise of personalized medicine now permeates current research into new pharmacological agents for the treatment of autoimmune disease. The new appreciation for the gene-environment interaction in the pathogenesis of most diseases especially those as heterogeneous as autoimmune diseases, has led to our focus on targeted therapies. Add to that the new knowledge of epigenetics and how changes in DNA and histone structure affect expression of genes that can play a role in immune signaling, and we now have a new exciting frontier for cutting edge drug development. The history of treatment of autoimmune diseases is really only a little over a century, but so much has changed, leading to increasing lifespans and improved quality of life of those who suffer from these ailments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Chang
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Failure of anti-TNF treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients can take on several forms, each posing distinct etio-pathogenic considerations and management dilemmas. AIM The aim of this study is to review the mechanisms responsible for the various forms of anti-TNF failures in IBD and to elucidate strategies for optimizing clinical efficacy. RESULTS Primary failures of anti-TNF induction therapy occur in up to 40% of patients in clinical trials and in 10-20% in clinical series. Longer disease duration, smoking and several genetic mutations are predisposing factors for primary failures. Curiously, primary non-response is probably not a class-effect phenomenon since switching to another anti-TNF is effective in over 50% of such patients. Secondary loss of response is also a common clinical problem with incidence ranging between 23 and 46% at 12months after anti-TNF initiation. Underlying mechanisms are often related to increased anti-TNF clearance by anti-drug antibodies, but may also include other causes for recalcitrant IBD activity as well as disorders that are unrelated to IBD itself. Astute management begins with verifying the presence of uncontrolled inflammatory IBD activity as a cause for patient's symptoms. Next, it is prudent to consider a trial of wait-and-see approach, since in some patients with mild-moderate symptoms, loss of response may resolve without alteration of therapy. If it does not, measuring anti-TNF trough levels and anti-drug antibodies may clarify the underlying mechanism in individual patients although there are still limited and conflicting data regarding the role of these measurements in guiding the choice between dose-intensification, switch to another anti-TNF or to another immuno-modulator, and the addition of an immuno-modulator as a combination therapy with the failing anti-TNF. Anti-TNF re-induction after prior drug-holiday is a distinct clinical scenario and scarce evidence suggests re-induction outcome to be dependent on the circumstances when drug-holiday was commenced. Finally, discontinuation of anti-TNF in patients with stable deep clinico-biologic and mucosal remission may be a viable option, as in these carefully selected patients the majority may enjoy long-term remission without the need for continued anti-TNF treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shomron Ben-Horin
- IBD service, Department of Gastroenterology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Dimitroulas T, Nikas SN, Trontzas P, Kitas GD. Biologic therapies and systemic bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmun Rev 2013; 12:958-66. [PMID: 23542506 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2013.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chronic inflammation affects bone metabolism leading to disequilibrium in the rates of bone resorption and repair and subsequently to local and generalized bone loss. Osteoporosis represents an important co-morbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, which exhibit increased fracture risk. Osteoclasts play a pivotal role in the development and progression of bone loss, while resident synovial cells such as T cells, monocytes and synovial fibroblasts have been identified as sources of osteoclast differentiation signals in RA. This process is mainly mediated through the receptor activator of nuclear-kappa B ligand (RANKL) signalling system, which is upregulated by numerous proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of RA. Improved knowledge of the association between cells and cytokines of the immune system and their relationship to bone remodeling has revealed several promising targets for the treatment of inflammatory bone loss in RA. In this respect, initiation of biologic therapies targeting inflammatory cytokines and/or lymphocyte activation has modified RA therapy not only by blocking local and systemic inflammatory cascades but also by providing beneficial effects against bone and joint degradation. In this article we briefly present the modern view of the mechanisms that govern inflammatory bone loss, highlighting the role of cytokine-induced molecular pathways, and discuss in detail the effects of different biologic treatment strategies on bone mass in RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros Dimitroulas
- Department of Rheumatology, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, UK.
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Epis OM, Giacomelli L, Deidda S, Bruschi E. Tight control applied to the biological therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmun Rev 2012; 12:839-41. [PMID: 23219770 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2012.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade, treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have included the early use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, since prompt suppression of disease activity is associated with a reduction in radiological damage. This strategy has now been incorporated into the broader concept of "tight control", defined as a treatment strategy tailored to each patient with RA, which aims to achieve a predefined level of low disease activity or remission within a certain period of time. To pursue this goal, tight control should include careful and continuous monitoring of disease activity, and early therapeutic adjustments or switches should be considered as necessary. It is noteworthy that the key role of tight control of RA has been stressed by the recent EULAR Guidelines. This review discusses the most recent evidence concerning the role of a tight control strategy in the treatment of RA, and on how this strategy should be pursued.
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Gremese E, Tolusso B, Fedele AL, Canestri S, Alivernini S, Ferraccioli G. ZAP-70+ B cell subset influences response to B cell depletion therapy and early repopulation in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 2012; 39:2276-85. [PMID: 22984268 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.120153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define the role of ZAP-70+ B cells (CD19+/ZAP-70+) as a biomarker of response to B cell depletion therapy (BCDT), their relationship with clinical outcome, and their behavior during repopulation of peripheral blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Thirty-one patients with RA underwent BCDT and were followed for 12 months. Disease activity was assessed with the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Cytofluorimetric analysis of peripheral blood B cell subsets at baseline and at 6- and 12-month intervals after BCDT was performed using surface markers (CD45, CD3, CD56, CD19, IgD, CD38, CD27) and intracellular ZAP-70. RESULTS A moderate/good EULAR response was achieved in 66.6% of the RA cohort. The baseline percentage of CD19+/ZAP-70+ cells was lower in good responder patients (1.8% ± 1.7%) compared to poor responders (5.6% ± 4.9%; p = 0.02). A decrease of plasmablasts (IgD-CD27+CD38+) and pre-switch memory (IgD+CD27+) B cells occurred after BCDT. Recovery of B cells in peripheral blood after the first course of BCDT was characterized by the reappearance of B cell subtypes that showed a naive, activated phenotype, coupled with a decrease in memory cells. B cells carrying intracytoplasmic ZAP-70 increased significantly from the baseline value of 4.4% ± 4.5% to 12.4% ± 9.2% (p = 0.001) at the 6-month and to 9.4% ± 6.4% (p = 0.002) at the 12-month followup. CONCLUSION Baseline percentage of CD19+/ZAP-70+ cells is associated with the clinical outcome after BCDT in patients with RA. Depletion of plasmablasts and pre-switch memory B cells and increase of CD19+/ZAP-70+ cells are features of the recovery of the B cell pool after BCDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gremese
- Division of Rheumatology, Institute of Rheumatology and Affine Sciences (IRSA), School of Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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