Elevation of cytomegalovirus antigenemia predicts serious infection and death in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies for autoimmune diseases

Baricitinib for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease: a case series and literature review on Janus kinase inhibitors for the disease

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis (anti-MDA5-DM) is frequently complicated by progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD), the prognosis of which is poor, and management is a major challenge. We treated three patients with anti-MDA5-DM-associated ILD (anti-MDA5-DM-ILD) using the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, baricitinib, which improved lung opacities and saved two patients. We reviewed 6 patients with anti-MDA5-DM-ILD who had been treated with tofacitinib at our institution. Five of the patients survived, although discontinuation of tofacitinib due to complications was frequently observed. In addition, a literature search of patients with anti-MDA5-DM-ILD who were treated with JAK inhibitors yielded 21 articles involving 79 cases. All patients except one were treated with tofacitinib, and the survival rate was 75.9%. Although not statistically confirmed, the deceased patients tended to be older and had higher ferritin levels. A total of 92 complications were observed, 11 of which resulted in JAK inhibitor discontinuation. Cytomegalovirus reactivation comprised a substantial percentage of all complications and of those patients who required JAK inhibitor discontinuation. Five cases with fatal infective complications were also observed. While tofacitinib has been proposed to be a therapeutic option for anti-MDA5-DM-ILD, other JAK inhibitors, including baricitinib, are a treatment option. Further investigation is warranted to optimize treatment of anti-MDA5-DM-ILD.

TSHR-based chimeric antigen receptor T cell specifically deplete auto-reactive B lymphocytes for treatment of autoimmune thyroid disease

Graves' disease (GD) is a prominent antibody-mediated autoimmune disorder characterized by stimulating antibodies (TRAb) that target the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR). Targeting and eliminating TRAb-producing B lymphocytes hold substantial therapeutic potential for GD. In this study, we engineered a novel chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy termed TSHR-CAR-T. This CAR-T construct incorporates the extracellular domain of the TSH receptor fused with the CD8 transmembrane and intracellular signal domain (4-1BB). TSHR-CAR-T cells demonstrated the ability to recognize and effectively eliminate TRAb-producing B lymphocytes both in vitro and in vivo. Leveraging this autoantigen-based chimeric receptor, our findings suggest that TSHR-CAR-T cells offer a promising and innovative immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases, including GD.

Clinical significance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigenemia in the prediction of CMV infection during immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatic disease

To investigate the risk factors for CMV infection and to clarify the cut-off count of CMV pp65 antigenemia predicting clinical symptoms related to CMV infection in patients with rheumatic disease. We retrospectively analyzed 261 patients with rheumatic disease who were treated with immunosuppressive therapy. CMV infection was defined as positive > 1 CMV-positive cell per two slides (CMV pp65 antigenemia C10/C11). Patients with CMV infection were divided into two groups based on the presence of antiviral treatment for CMV disease. We determined a cut-off value of CMV-positive cells for the diagnosis of CMV disease. CMV infection was observed in 141 cases (54%). In a multivariate analysis, CMV infection was associated with three following factors: Age > 60 years (OR 1.87 [95% CI 1.04-3.36]); lymphocyte counts < 1000/μL (OR 3.34 [95% CI 1.88-6.05]); steroid pulse therapy (OR 2.60 [95% CI 1.27-5.55]). The cut-off level of CMV pp65 antigenemia indicating CMV disease was five positive cells average two slides by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (AUC 0.95, sensitivity 0.94, specificity 0.80). Age > 60 years, lymphocytopenia (< 1000/μL) and steroid pulse therapy are risk factors of CMV infection. We recommend that CMV pp65 antigenemia of > 5 cells average two slides (C10/C11) in patients with rheumatic disease should be the treated with antiviral drugs.