scholarly journals Role of B Cell Profile for Predicting Secondary Autoimmunity in Patients Treated With Alemtuzumab

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulette Esperanza Walo-Delgado ◽  
Enric Monreal ◽  
Silvia Medina ◽  
Ester Quintana ◽  
Susana Sainz de la Maza ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo explore if baseline blood lymphocyte profile could identify relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients at higher risk of developing secondary autoimmune adverse events (AIAEs) after alemtuzumab treatment.MethodsMulticenter prospective study including 57 RRMS patients treated with alemtuzumab followed for 3.25 [3.5-4.21] years, (median [interquartile range]). Blood samples were collected at baseline, and leukocyte subsets determined by flow cytometry. We had additional samples one year after the first cycle of alemtuzumab treatment in 39 cases.ResultsTwenty-two patients (38.6%) developed AIAEs during follow-up. They had higher B-cell percentages at baseline (p=0.0014), being differences mainly due to plasmablasts/plasma cells (PB/PC, p=0.0011). Those with no AIAEs had higher percentages of CD4+ T cells (p=0.013), mainly due to terminally differentiated (TD) (p=0.034) and effector memory (EM) (p=0.031) phenotypes. AIAEs- patients also showed higher values of TNF-alpha-producing CD8+ T cells (p=0.029). The percentage of PB/PC was the best variable to differentiate both groups of patients. Baseline values >0.10% closely associated with higher AIAE risk (Odds ratio [OR]: 5.91, 95% CI: 1.83-19.10, p=0.004). When excluding the 12 patients with natalizumab, which decreases blood PB/PC percentages, being the last treatment before alemtuzumab, baseline PB/PC >0.1% even predicted more accurately the risk of AIAEs (OR: 11.67, 95% CI: 2.62-51.89, p=0.0007). The AIAEs+ group continued having high percentages of PB/PC after a year of alemtuzumab treatment (p=0.0058).ConclusionsA PB/PC percentage <0.1% at baseline identifies MS patients at low risk of secondary autoimmunity during alemtuzumab treatment.​

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
D’Amico ◽  
Zanghì ◽  
Romano ◽  
Sciandra ◽  
Palumbo ◽  
...  

: Background: The role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of peripheral blood has been investigated in relation to several autoimmune diseases. Limited studies have addressed the significance of the NLR in terms of being a marker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: This is a retrospective study in relapsing–remitting MS patients (RRMS) admitted to the tertiary MS center of Catania, Italy during the period of 1 January to 31 December 2018. The aim of the present study was to investigate the significance of the NLR in reflecting the disease activity in a cohort of early diagnosed RRMS patients. Results: Among a total sample of 132 patients diagnosed with RRMS, 84 were enrolled in the present study. In the association analysis, a relation between the NLR value and disease activity at onset was found (V-Cramer 0.271, p = 0.013). In the logistic regression model, the variable NLR (p = 0.03 ExpB 3.5, CI 95% 1.089–11.4) was related to disease activity at onset. Conclusion: An elevated NLR is associated with disease activity at onset in RRMS patients. More large-scale studies with a longer follow-up are needed.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 1817-1817
Author(s):  
Frank Neumann ◽  
Boris Kubuschok ◽  
Klaus-Dieter Preuss ◽  
Claudia Schormann ◽  
Michael Pfreundschuh

Abstract Background: Paratarg-7 (P-7) is the antigenic target of paraproteins(Preuss et al. Int J Cancer 2009;125:656-61) from 15% of European and 37% of African-American MGUS/MM patients, stronlgy supporting a role of P-7 in the pathogenesis of MGUS/MM via chronic auto-antigenic stimulation. All patients with P-7 specific paraproteins are carriers of the hyperphosphorylated version of p-7 (pP-7). We recently identified pP-7 specific T-helper cells which were restricted by certain "permissive" HLA-DR haplotypes (Neumann et al., Int J Cancer 2015; 137:1076-1084). These HLA-DR subtypes are overrepresented among patients with P-7 specific paraproteins compared to the corresponding normal population indicating that there are two prerequisites for the development of MGUS/MM with a P-7 specific paraprotein: 1st carriership of pP-7 and 2nd a permissive HLA-DR subtype. We now investigated the functional role of the pP-7 specific T-helper cells and their interaction with peripheral B cells with cognate specificity. Methods: Three patients with MGUS or MM, respectively, with a P-7 specific paraprotein and pP-7 specific T-helper cells were included in this study so far. In addition, the B cells from one healthy pP-7 carrying son of one of the patients were also analyzed. In vitro stimulation of antigen-specific peripheral B cells by pP-7 specific T-helper cells followed a modified protocol previously described by Lanzavecchia et al. (Eur J Immunol. 1983; 13:733-738). To this end, CD19+ B cells and CD3+ T cells were magnetically isolated from the proband's PBMC. T cells were replaced by corresponding T-helper cell clones. Results: In all patients studied, the autologous pP-7 specific T-helper cells stimulated the peripheral B cells to produce P-7 specific antibodies. The P-7 specific B-cell responses were monoclonal and the immunoglobulin type was the same as the paraprotein of the corresponding patient. In contrast, B-cell stimulation with CMV-pp65 specific T-helper cells used as controls always induced an antigen-specific, yet polyclonal response. When the peripheral B cells of a pP-7 carrying patient's son were also stimulated with pP-7 specific T-helper cells, they induced - in contrast to the mother - a polyclonal P-7 specific antibody response in his B cells, even though mother and son shared a "permissive" HLA-DR haplotype (HLA-DRB1*1301). Conclusion: In patients with MGUS/MM monoclonal B cells are found in the peripheral blood that can be induced to produce monoclonal antibodies identical to the serum paraprotein by T-helper cells with specificity for the antigenic target of the paraprotein. This does not only support an indispensable role of these T-helper cells in the pathogenesis of MGUS/MM via chronic antigenic stimulation, it also proves that precursors of the malignant plasma cells can be found in the peripheral blood that might fuel the development of malignant plasma cells. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses are underway to determine if these precursor B-cells share the malignant genotype of their malignant plasma cells. These B cells can now be targeted by PARs (p araprotein a ntigens for r everse targeting) conjugated to toxins, as parts of bispecific constructs (PAR/CD3 or PAR/CD16) and/or PAR/CAR T cells. Use of PARs can be envisaged prophylactically for carriers of modified autoantigens like pP-7 with a permissive HLA-DR haplotype and a monoclonal B-cell response in vitro or in MM patients achieving a VGPR or CR after treatment for the prevention of relapse. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Nakhaei-Nejad ◽  
David Barilla ◽  
Chieh-Hsin Lee ◽  
Gregg Blevins ◽  
Fabrizio Giuliani

Objective:Lymphopenia is a common occurrence of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). The aim of this study was to dissect the prevalence of various lymphocyte subsets in patients with RRMS treated with 2 DMTs commonly associated with lymphopenia, dimethyl fumarate (DMF), and fingolimod (FTY).Methods:Multicolor flow cytometry and multiplex assays were used to identify up to 50 lymphocyte subpopulations and to examine the expression of multiple cytokines in selected patients. We compared patients untreated (NT) or treated with FTY or DMF who did (DMF-L) or did not (DMF-N) develop lymphopenia.Results:All FTY patients developed lymphopenia in both T-cell and B-cell compartments. CD41 T cells were more affected by this treatment than CD81 cells. In the B-cell compartment, the CD271IgD2 subpopulation was reduced. T cells but not B cells were significantly reduced in DMF-L. However, within the B cells, CD271 cells were significantly lower. Both CD41 and CD81 subpopulations were reduced in DMF-L. Within the remaining CD41 and CD81 compartments, there was an expansion of the naive subpopulation and a reduction of the effector memory subpopulation. Unactivated lymphocyte from DMF-L patients had significantly higher levels of interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-1β compared with DMF-N. In plasma, TNFβ was significantly higher in DMF-N and DMF-L compared with NT, whereas CCL17 was significantly higher in DMF-L compared with NT and DMF-N.Conclusions:This study shows that different treatments can target different lymphocyte compartments and suggests that lymphopenia can induce compensatory mechanisms to maintain immune homeostasis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-177
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sadegh Hesamian ◽  
Nahid Eskandari

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. The cause of MS is not known completely, and pathology is specified by involved demyelinated areas in the white and gray matter of the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation and peripheral tolerance breakdown due to Treg cell defects and/or effector cell resistance are present at all stages of the disease. Several invading peripheral immune cells are included in the process of the disease such as macrophages, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, B cells, and plasma cells. Trace elements are known as elements found in soil, plants, and living organisms in small quantities. Some of them (e.g., Al, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Se) are essential for the body’s functions like catalysts in enzyme systems, energy metabolism, etc. Al toxicity and Cu, Zn, and Se toxicity and deficiency can affect the immune system and following neuron inflammation and degeneration. These processes may result in MS pathology. Of course, factors such as lifestyle, environment, and industrialization can affect levels of trace elements in the human body.


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