Effects of Abatacept on T-Lymphocyte Sub-populations and Immunoglobulins in Patients Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Abatacept acts as a co-stimulation modulator preventing activation of T cells. Although it is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its effects on adaptive immune response have not been fully elucidated.

OBJECTIVES:

To observe, in a cohort study, based on a clinical practice setting, the variation of peripheral blood T cells, immunoglobulin levels, and autoantibodies in the serum of RA patients during abatacept therapy.

METHODS:

Our study comprised 48 RA patients treated with abatacept. All clinical data were collected at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Clinical and laboratory tests included erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, 28-joint disease activity score, RF, anti-citrullinated protein antibody, total immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and lymphocyte sub-population.

RESULTS:

Total immunoglobulin serum levels significantly decreased after 3 months of treatment and correlated positively with disease activity both at baseline and after 3 months of abatacept treatment. A reduction of serum IgM, IgG, IgA and RF was also demonstrated. The absolute number and percentage of cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells significantly decreased after 3 months of abatacept treatment, in particular the percentage of cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells significantly decreased only in patients responding to the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results highlight a different role of abatacept in the modulation of the adaptive immune response in RA by the reduction of polyclonal B-cell activation and cytotoxic T cells.

• Authors: Paola Conigliaro, Paola Triggianese, Emiliano Giampà, Maria S Chimenti, Barbara Kroegler, Roberto Perricone
• Journal: The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ (Isr Med Assoc J) Vol. 19 Issue 7 Pg. 406-410 (07 2017) ISSN: 1565-1088 [Print] Israel
• PMID: 28786253 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antirheumatic Agents
• Autoantibodies
• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• Abatacept

Topics

• Abatacept (pharmacology)
• Antirheumatic Agents (pharmacology)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (blood, drug therapy, immunology)
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• B-Lymphocytes (drug effects)
• Cohort Studies
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin A (blood)
• Immunoglobulin G (blood)
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• T-Lymphocyte Subsets (drug effects)
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (drug effects)