Rituximab Therapy Reduces Organ-Specific T Cell Responses and Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Recent clinical trials have established B cell depletion by the anti-CD20
chimeric antibody Rituximab as a beneficial therapy for patients with
relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The impact of Rituximab on T cell
responses remains largely unexplored. In the experimental autoimmune
encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS in mice that express human CD20, Rituximab
administration rapidly depleted peripheral B cells and strongly reduced EAE
severity. B cell depletion was also associated with diminished Delayed Type
Hypersensitivity (DTH) and a reduction in T cell proliferation and IL-17
production during recall immune response experiments. While Rituximab is not
considered a broad immunosuppressant, our results indicate a role for B cells as
a therapeutic cellular target in regulating encephalitogenic T cell responses in
specific tissues.

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Rituximab Therapy Reduces Organ-Specific T Cell Responses and
Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Syndicated from:PLoS ONE

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