title: Rituximab induces clonal expansion of IgG memory B-cells in patients with inflammatory central nervous system demyelination.
abstract: Rituximab, a monoclonal B-cell cytolytic antibody, has beneficial effects in patients with inflammatory demyelinating diseases. So far, little data exists on B-cell subset recovery after rituximab treatment in inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). To elucidate whether rituximab promotes qualitative changes in the IgG memory B-cell repertoire we performed a single cell analysis in three patients with CNS demyelination. We did not observe any qualitative changes but detected an increased clonal expansion in the IgG memory B-cell compartment after treatment, indicating that a single course of rituximab does not eliminate specific IgG memory B-cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Neuroinflammation, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tuller
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gredler
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zürich and University of Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lutterotti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Immunology, Department of Neuroinflammation, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: jan.luenemann@uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lünemann
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: markus.reindl@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reindl
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D020278:Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: B-cells; Clonal expansion; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica; Rituximab