Rituximab induces a transient fluctuation of peripheral and follicular helper T cells in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Zhenning Huang; Ye Liu; Xueting An; Chen Zhang; Tian-Xiang Zhang; Huining Li; Bin Feng; Yan-Yan Li; Chao Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578167

Rituximab induces a transient fluctuation of peripheral and follicular helper T cells in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

J Neuroimmunol. 2023 Sep 15:382:578167. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578167. Epub 2023 Jul 29.

Authors

Zhenning Huang¹, Ye Liu¹, Xueting An¹, Chen Zhang¹, Tian-Xiang Zhang¹, Huining Li¹, Bin Feng¹, Yan-Yan Li¹, Chao Zhang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology and Institute of Neuroimmunology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
² Department of Neurology and Institute of Neuroimmunology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China; Center of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Diseases, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: chaozhang@tmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37536049
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578167

Abstract

Autoreactive CD4⁺ helper T cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Both PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺CD4⁺ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and PD-1⁺CXCR5^-CD4⁺ T peripheral helper (Tph) cells can contribute to B-cell immune responses and the production of antibodies. Here we show the effect of B-cell depletion with rituximab on the homeostasis of Tfh cells, Tph cells and their subsets in patients with NMOSD. After rituximab treatment, total Tph cells, total Tfh cells, Tph17 cells, Tph17.1 cells, Tph1 cells, and Tfh1 cells tended to decrease at month 1, but gradually increased at month 6 and restored at month 12. Besides, Tph17.1 cells and Tfh17.1 cells were correlated with the proportion of CD19^- antibody-secreting cells. Our data suggest that rituximab induced a fluctuation of proinflammatory Tph and Tfh subsets within one year after initiation of the treatment.

Keywords: NMOSD; Rituximab; T helper cells.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Neuromyelitis Optica* / drug therapy
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
Rituximab / pharmacology
Rituximab / therapeutic use
T Follicular Helper Cells
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

Substances

Rituximab
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor