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: Zhanshan Cha, Chen Li, Yan Zang, Haihui Gu, Huijun Guo, Jinqi Li, Yuan Fang, Thomas F Petersen, Jing Li, Richard O Karas, Michele L Hamilton, Baohua Qian
• Journal: Tumour biology : the journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine (Tumour Biol) Vol. 37 Issue 1 Pg. 829-35 (Jan 2016) ISSN: 1423-0380 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26254098 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD19
• Antineoplastic Agents
• CD19 molecule, human
• Immunoglobulin G
• Rituximab

Topics

• Adult
• Antigens, CD19 (metabolism)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Cell Proliferation
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology)
• Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse (drug therapy, immunology, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phenotype
• Remission Induction
• Rituximab (therapeutic use)
• Young Adult