A role for B cells in autoimmune diseases is now clearly established both in mouse models and humans by successful treatment of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies that eliminate B cells.
Furthermore, a protocol that selectively depletes effector B cells while sparing regulatory B cells would represent a potent therapy for autoimmune diseases rather than pan-B cell depletion using anti-CD20 mAb.
CD20 is a B-lymphocyte specific integral membrane protein, an activated-glycosylated phosphoprotein expressed on the surface of B-cells and a clinically validated target of monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab and obinutuzumab in the treatment of all B cell lymphomas and leukemias as well as autoimmune diseases.
In recent years, rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody that binds the B lymphocyte membrane protein CD20, has been increasingly used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, with the rationale of destroying pathogenic B lymphocytes and decreasing autoantibody formation.
CD3<sup>+</sup> CD20<sup>+</sup> T cells are a population of CD3<sup>+</sup> T cells that express CD20 and identified in healthy donors and autoimmune diseases.
Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody approved for the treatment of some lymphoid malignancies as well as for autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and vasculitis.
The objective was to determine whether CD52 lymphocyte depletion can act to promote immunological tolerance induction by way of intravenous antigen administration such that it could be used to either improve efficiency of multiple sclerosis (MS) inhibition or inhibit secondary autoimmunities that may occur following alemtuzumab use in MS. Relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced in ABH mice and immune cell depletion was therapeutically applied using mouse CD52 or CD4 (in conjunction with CD8 or CD20) depleting monoclonal antibodies.
Using highly effective CD20 mAbs that efficiently deplete endogenous mature B cells and homologous CD20+ primary lymphoma cells through monocyte- and antibody-dependent mechanisms, we found that lymphoma depletion and survival were reduced when endogenous host B cells were not depleted, particularly a rare IL-10-producing B cell subset (B10 cells) known to regulate inflammation and autoimmunity.
Remarkably, CD19 loss or B-cell depletion using antimouse CD20 antibody suppresses the development of skin hyperplasia and autoimmunity in tight-skin mice.
The targeting of CD20 on normal, malignant and auto-immune B-lymphocytes by rituximab has demonstrated substantial benefits for patients with a variety of B-cell lymphomas, as well as some with autoimmune disorders.
Remarkably, CD19 loss or B-cell depletion using antimouse CD20 antibody suppresses the development of skin hyperplasia and autoimmunity in tight-skin mice.
Persistent antigen stimulation due to an inherent defect in the ability of the immune system to eradicate pathogens is the primary cause leading to autoimmunity in patients with primary immunodeficiency states.We describe a 10 year old Iranian girl with chronic granulomatous disease -the autosomal recessive type with mutation of NCF1 gene P47- associated with selective IgA deficiency, refractory immune thrombocytopenia that showed an excellent response to Rituximab (Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody).Patients with primary immunodeficiencies may have variable autoimmune manifestations.