Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Unveiling the dynamics of B lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with belimumab through longitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing
An erratum to this article was published (Rheumatology (Oxford), 1 Apr 2025 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
The observed B cell dynamics provided insights into the immunological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of anti-BAFF in SLE patients.
Study context
- Population
- Korean systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients treated with belimumab; validation cohort of Japanese SLE patients (bulk transcriptome)plus 22 Japanese SLE patients (bulk)
- Participants
- 4 patients
- Comparison
- Before vs after belimumab treatment
- Outcome
- B lymphocyte dynamics in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during anti-BAFF (belimumab) treatment
- Follow-up
- 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months
Methodological detailslongitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry validation, comparison with bulk transcriptome data
- Longitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing
- Flow cytometry validation
- Comparison with bulk transcriptome data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Naïve and transitional B cells: initial decline, then increase at 3 months
- Memory B cells: initial increase, then decrease by the third month
- Plasmablasts: consistent decline throughout treatment
- B cell activation pathways in naïve and memory B cells downregulated at 3 and 6 months
- Findings validated at protein level by flow cytometry over first 4 weeks
Further findings
NR4A1 expression (bulk transcriptome, 22 Japanese SLE patients) · 6 months
- Increased NR4A1 expression post-belimumab
Original publication
Unveiling the dynamics of B lymphocytes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with belimumab through longitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 22 July 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →