AB0144 STRATIFICATION OF PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME BY MEASURING B-CELL HEALTH
Authors: G. M. Verstappen, J. C. Tempany, H. Cheon, A. Farchione, S. Downie-Doyle, M. Rischmueller, K. R. Duffy, F. G. M. Kroese, H. Bootsma, P. D. Hodgkin, V. L. Bryant
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a heterogeneous immune disorder with broad clinical phenotypes that can arise from a large number of genetic, hormonal, and environmental causes. B-cell hyperactivity is considered to be a pathogenic hallmark of pSS. However, whether B-cell hyperactivity in pSS patients is a result of polygenic, B cell-intrinsic factors, extrinsic factors, or both, is unclear. Despite controversies about the efficacy of rituximab, new B-cell targeting therapies are under investigation with promising early results. However, for such therapies to be successful, the etiology of B-cell hyperactivity in pSS needs to be clarified at the individual patient level. Objectives: To measure naïve B-cell function in pSS patients and healthy donors using quantitative immunology. Methods: We have developed standardised, quantitative functional assays of B-cell responses that measure division, death, differentiation and isotype switching, to reveal the innate programming of B cells in response to T-independent and dependent stimuli. This novel pipeline to measure B-cell health was developed to reveal the sum total of polygenic defects and underlying B-cell dysfunction at an individual level. For the current study, 25 pSS patients, fulfilling 2016 ACR-EULAR criteria, and 15 age-and gender-matched healthy donors were recruited. Standardized quantitative assays were used to directly measure B cell division, death and differentiation in response to T cell-independent (anti-Ig + CpG) and T-cell dependent (CD40L + IL-21) stimuli. Naïve B cells (IgD + CD27 - ) were sorted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were labeled with Cell Trace Violet at day 0 to track cell division until day 6. B cell differentiation was measured at day 5. Results: Application of our standardized assays, and accompanying parametric models, allowed us to study B cell-intrinsic defects in pSS patients to a range of stimuli. Strikingly, we demonstrated a hyperresponse of naïve B cells to combined B cell receptor (BCR) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 stimulation in pSS patients. This hyperresponse was revealed by an increased mean division number (MDN) at day 5 in pSS patients compared with healthy donors (p=0.021). A higher MDN in pSS patients was observed at the cohort level and was likely attributed to an increased division burst (division destiny) time. The MDN upon BCR/TLR-9 stimulation correlated with serum IgG levels ( r s =0.52; p=0.011). No difference in MDN of naïve B cells after T cell-dependent stimulation was observed between pSS patients and healthy donors. B cell differentiation capacity (e.g., plasmablast formation and isotype switching) after T cell-dependent stimulation was also assessed. At the cohort level, no difference in differentiation capacity between groups was observed, although some pSS patients showed higher plasmablast frequencies than healthy donors. Conclusion: Here, we demonstrate defects in B-cell responses both at the cohort level, as well as individual signatures of defective responses. Personalized profiles of B cell health in pSS patients reveal a group of hyperresponsive patients, specifically to combined BCR/TLR stimulation. These patients may benefit most from B-cell targeted therapies. Future studies will address whether profiles of B cell health might serve additional roles, such as prediction of disease trajectories, and thus accelerate early intervention and access to precision therapies. Disclosure of Interests: Gwenny M. Verstappen: None declared, Jessica Catherine Tempany: None declared, HoChan Cheon: None declared, Anthony Farchione: None declared, Sarah Downie-Doyle: None declared, Maureen Rischmueller Consultant of: Abbvie, Bristol-Meyer-Squibb, Celgene, Glaxo Smith Kline, Hospira, Janssen Cilag, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, UCB, Ken R. Duffy: None declared, Frans G.M. Kroese Grant/research support from: Unrestricted grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Consultant of: Consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Speakers bureau: Speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche and Janssen-Cilag, Hendrika Bootsma Grant/research support from: Unrestricted grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche, Consultant of: Consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche, Novartis, Medimmune, Union Chimique Belge, Speakers bureau: Speaker for Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis., Philip D. Hodgkin Grant/research support from: Medimmune, Vanessa L. Bryant Grant/research support from: CSL