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Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

Published in:

01-08-2012 | Original article

Rituximab-induced direct inhibition of T-cell activation

Authors: Dina Stroopinsky, Tamar Katz, Jacob M. Rowe, Doron Melamed, Irit Avivi

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 8/2012

Abstract

Background

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is reported to increase the T-cell-dependent infection risk. The current study was designed to investigate whether rituximab interferes with T-cell activation.

Patients and methods

Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving 4–6 courses of 375 mg/m² rituximab underwent detailed assessment of T-cell activation pre- and post-rituximab. A similar analysis assessed the in vitro effect of rituximab on T-cell activation in response to allogeneic dendritic cells (allo-DCs) and other stimuli.

Results

Patients receiving rituximab exhibited a significant decline in IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in peripheral blood, most prominent after repeated rituximab courses. Evaluation at 3 months after rituximab therapy showed restoration of inflammatory cytokine production. Similarly, in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of rituximab resulted in a significant decrease in T-cell activation markers, inflammatory cytokine production and proliferative capacity. These effects were also observed using B-cell-depleted T cells (CD3⁺CD25⁻CD19⁻) and were accompanied with disappearance of CD3⁺CD20^dim T-cell population.

Conclusion

Rituximab administration results in transient, dose-dependent T-cell inactivation. This effect is obtained even in B-cell absence and may increase the infection risk.

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Title: Rituximab-induced direct inhibition of T-cell activation
Authors: Dina Stroopinsky
Tamar Katz
Jacob M. Rowe
Doron Melamed
Irit Avivi
Publication date: 01-08-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 8/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-011-1168-2

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