Effects of different B-cell-depleting strategies on the lymphatic tissue
Authors' conclusion
Protein-based B cell depletion reduces but usually does not deplete B cells in lymph nodes leaving the follicular architecture intact and being associated with disease recurrence.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with autoimmune diseases (AIDs)baseline and follow-up biopsies
- Participants
- 24 patients
- Comparison
- Obinutuzumab (OBI) vs blinatumomab (BLI) vs rituximab (RTX) vs CD19-CAR T cells
- OBIn = 4
- BLIn = 4
- RTXn = 4
- CD19-CAR T cellsn = 12
- Outcome
- B cell depletion efficacy in lymph nodes
Methodological detailssequential inguinal lymph node biopsies before and after treatment, immunohistochemistry
- Sequential inguinal lymph node biopsies before and after treatment
- Immunohistochemistry
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
B cell depletion efficacy in the lymph nodes
Further findings
Other lymph node cells
- Plasma cells reduced but not depleted in all treatment approaches
- CD3+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages unaffected
Peripheral blood B cell depletion
- Occurred in all but 1 BLI-treated patient
Clinical course
- B cell depletion associated with stable drug-free remission; reduction without depletion required retreatment with immunomodulatory drugs
Original publication
Effects of different B-cell-depleting strategies on the lymphatic tissue. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 11 July 2025. doi:10.
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