title: Adaptive B cell responses in rituximab-treated diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients during complete remission.
abstract: Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen. Treatment using rituximab in combination with chemotherapy has dramatically improved overall survival rate of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Since rituximab can deplete both lymphoma B cells and normal B cells, how rituximab-treatment affects normal B cell function in DLBCL patients under remission is unclear. Here, we examined peripheral blood B cell composition and antigen-specific B cell responses in DLBCL patients in remission and observed reductions in the frequencies of total B cell as well as several major B cell subsets, including CD19(+)IgD(+) naive B cells, CD19(+)IgD(-)CD27(+) memory B cells, and CD19(lo)CD27(hi) plasmablasts. Moreover, tetanus toxin (TT)-specific B cell proliferation was reduced in DLBCL patients in remission. On the other hand, HA-specific IgG-secreting B cell responses could be stimulated by influenza vaccination in DLBCL patients in remission, demonstrating that the machinery for generating de novo adaptive B cell responses was functional in DLBCL patients in remission. Our results provided insights in normal B cell function in DLBCL patients in remission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Zhanshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, 276000, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Haihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Huijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
authors.forename: Jinqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: BGC Biotechnology Research Center, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: BGC Biotechnology Research Center, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shandong Affiliated Hospital, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. Richard.Karas@DLBCL.ORG.
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Karas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. michelelihamilton@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China. qianbhl963@163.com.
authors.forename: Baohua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C000604811:CD19 molecule, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: B cell; BLDCL; Remission; Rituximab