OBJECTIVES: Transient B cell depletion with the monoclonal anti- @entity2225 antibody rituximab has shown favourable clinical responses in @entity1 with @entity309 ( @entity309 ). Recently a characteristic regeneration pattern of B cell subpopulations has been reported. However, little is known about the impact of B-cell depletion on peripheral T cells in particular regulatory T cells. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: 17 @entity1 with @entity309 having failed anti- @entity2874 were treated with rituximab. Four colour staining was performed using @entity1075 , CD3, @entity404 , @entity405 , @entity4071 , @entity2940 , @entity7211 , HLA-DR, @entity6393 and intracellular @entity403 at five time points spanning up to 12 months after rituximab. In addition, quantification of the soluble form of the HLA class I molecule @entity6393 by ELISA has been performed. RESULTS: Peripheral B cell depletion lasted 6 to 9 months. The absolute number of CD3+, @entity404 + and @entity405 + lymphocytes showed no significant changes up to 1 year after B-cell depletion compared to before therapy. Only the relative frequency for CD3 and @entity404 showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). In particular, @entity404 + @entity7211 ++ and @entity403 positive regulatory T cells remained constant. The percentage of @entity6393 positive cells in the @entity404 + or @entity405 + population did not change significantly either. The amount of sHLA-G remained without significant changes. CONCLUSION: Absolute T cell counts showed no significant changes after rituximab compared to the time point before therapy.In particular, the frequency of regulatory T cells with a @entity404 + @entity7211 ++ phenotype as well as positive @entity403 expression were numerically stable. Additionally, @entity6393 positive regulatory T cells and soluble levels of @entity6393 showed no significant changes.

Frequency of regulatory T cells is not affected by transient B cell depletion using anti- @entity2225 antibodies in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity404 :: ('920', 'Gene') :: ['CD4'] @entity2940 :: ('4684', 'Gene') :: ['CD56'] @entity1075 :: ('930', 'Gene') :: ['CD19'] @entity2225 :: ('54474', 'Gene') :: ['CD20'] @entity2874 :: ('MESH:C536657', 'Disease') :: ['TNF'] @entity4071 :: ('2214', 'Gene') :: ['CD16'] @entity7211 :: ('3669', 'Gene') :: ['CD25'] @entity403 :: ('50943', 'Gene') :: ['Foxp3'] @entity6393 :: ('3135', 'Gene') :: ['HLA-G'] @entity405 :: ('925', 'Gene') :: ['CD8'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis', 'RA']
@entity309 :: (MESH:D001172,Disease) :: ['rheumatoid arthritis']
