Abstract
Background: This pilot study’s primary aim was to determine if oligoclonal B cell expansion in children with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) predicts response to Rituximab therapy. We evaluated: (1) tissue B cell depletion efficacy by measuring the ratio of Coding joint (CJ) to Kappa-deleting recombination excision circle (KREC) DNA, and (2) serum BAFF level upon B cell recovery. Methods: CJ and KREC values were measured via qPCR assessment of serial PBMC stored (− 80 °C) in the CureJM Center’s BioRepository. Serum BAFF was quantitated by Mesoscale® technology. Oligoclonal B cell expansion was defined as a CJ:KREC ≥ 8 prior to Rituximab therapy. Detection of a CJ:KREC ratio ≤ 2.5 in the first sample after Rituximab was designated as adequate B cell depletion. A significant clinical response to therapy was defined as improvement in Disease Activity Score (DAS) by at least 2 points on consecutive visits within the first 12 months of therapy. Results: Six out of nine children with JDM showed oligoclonal B cell expansion prior to Rituximab (CJ:KREC ≥ 8). Of those 6 patients, 4 had evidence of effective B cell depletion after Rituximab (CJ:KREC ≤ 2.5), and all 4 of those subjects displayed a significant clinical response to Rituximab. Serum BAFF level increased in 8/9 children after Rituximab. Conclusions: In this proof-of-concept study, JDM patients with oligoclonal B cell expansion prior to Rituximab have more favorable clinical outcomes after Rituximab. We speculate: (1) B cell depletion post-Rituximab predicts JDM clinical response; (2) increased BAFF post-Rituximab may contribute to disease flare.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 36 |
Journal | BMC Rheumatology |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2022 |
Keywords
- BAFF level
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- KREC evaluation
- Rituximab response
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rheumatology
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Coding joint: kappa-deleting recombination excision circle ratio and B cell activating factor level: predicting juvenile dermatomyositis rituximab response, a proof-of-concept study
Ochfeld, E. (Creator), Hans, V. (Creator), Marin, W. (Creator), Ahsan, N. (Creator), Morgan, G. (Creator), Pachman MD, L. M. (Creator), Khojah, A. (Creator) & Marin, W. (Creator), figshare, 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5985233.v1, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Coding_joint_kappa-deleting_recombination_excision_circle_ratio_and_B_cell_activating_factor_level_predicting_juvenile_dermatomyositis_rituximab_response_a_proof-of-concept_study/5985233/1
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