BACKGROUND: Intrarenal B cell clusters are associated with poor clinical outcome in acute interstitial rejection. The incidence of B cell aggregates in vascular rejection and the effect of therapy with the monoclonal CD20 antibody rituximab on intrarenal B cells are currently unclear. METHODS: We analyzed the incidence of B cell clusters in patients with vascular rejection by immunohistochemistry and compared the influence of rituximab treatment plus conventional therapy with that of conventional immunosuppression alone on intrarenal B cells. Furthermore intrarenal expression of the B cell attracting chemokine BCA-1/CXCL13 and the lymphoid chemokine SLC/CCL21 were analyzed. RESULTS: Nine of 16 patients with vascular rejection displayed intrarenal B cell clusters strictly co-localizing with expression of the B cell attractant chemokine BCA-1/CXCL13. Addition of rituximab to conventional treatment lead to complete depletion of intrarenal B cells (98.3+/-136.4 CD20, 90.7+/-113.2 CD19 vs. 0+/-0 CD20, 0+/-0 CD19 B cells/hpf, P<0.001). Creatinine decreased from 5.0+/-4.1 to 1.9+/-0.4 mg/dl at discharge, and to 1.9+/-0.5 mg/dl after three months (P<0.02). No effect on intrarenal B cells was observed in the patients not treated with rituximab (72.8+/-73.0 vs. 80.3+/-75.3 CD20, 75.6+/-86.6 vs. 85.7+/-82.0 CD19). At discharge, creatinine had improved in this group from 5.1+/-4.1 mg/dl to 1.8+/-0.5 mg/dl and to 1.7+/-0.6 mg/dl after 3 months (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In summary, our study reports two main findings, namely the previously unrecognized high prevalence of intrarenal B cell clusters in 56% of biopsies with acute vascular rejection and a complete depletion of intrarenal B cells by addition of Rituximab to conventional treatment.
BACKGROUND: Intrarenal B cell clusters are associated with poor clinical outcome in acute interstitial rejection. The incidence of B cell aggregates in vascular rejection and the effect of therapy with the monoclonal CD20 antibody rituximab on intrarenal B cells are currently unclear. METHODS: We analyzed the incidence of B cell clusters in patients with vascular rejection by immunohistochemistry and compared the influence of rituximab treatment plus conventional therapy with that of conventional immunosuppression alone on intrarenal B cells. Furthermore intrarenal expression of the B cell attracting chemokine BCA-1/CXCL13 and the lymphoid chemokine SLC/CCL21 were analyzed. RESULTS: Nine of 16 patients with vascular rejection displayed intrarenal B cell clusters strictly co-localizing with expression of the B cell attractant chemokine BCA-1/CXCL13. Addition of rituximab to conventional treatment lead to complete depletion of intrarenal B cells (98.3+/-136.4 CD20, 90.7+/-113.2 CD19 vs. 0+/-0 CD20, 0+/-0 CD19 B cells/hpf, P<0.001). Creatinine decreased from 5.0+/-4.1 to 1.9+/-0.4 mg/dl at discharge, and to 1.9+/-0.5 mg/dl after three months (P<0.02). No effect on intrarenal B cells was observed in the patients not treated with rituximab (72.8+/-73.0 vs. 80.3+/-75.3 CD20, 75.6+/-86.6 vs. 85.7+/-82.0 CD19). At discharge, creatinine had improved in this group from 5.1+/-4.1 mg/dl to 1.8+/-0.5 mg/dl and to 1.7+/-0.6 mg/dl after 3 months (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In summary, our study reports two main findings, namely the previously unrecognized high prevalence of intrarenal B cell clusters in 56% of biopsies with acute vascular rejection and a complete depletion of intrarenal B cells by addition of Rituximab to conventional treatment.
Authors: Byung H Chung; Hye J Oh; Shang G Piao; Hyeon S Hwang; In O Sun; Sun R Choi; Hoon S Park; Bum S Choi; Yeong J Choi; Cheol W Park; Yong-Soo Kim; Mi-La Cho; Chul W Yang Journal: Immunology Date: 2012-07 Impact factor: 7.397
Authors: Byung Ha Chung; Hye Jwa Oh; Shang Guo Piao; In O Sun; Seok Hui Kang; Sun Ryoung Choi; Hoon Suk Park; Bum Soon Choi; Yeong Jin Choi; Cheol Whee Park; Yong Soo Kim; Mi La Cho; Chul Woo Yang Journal: Exp Mol Med Date: 2011-11-30 Impact factor: 8.718
Authors: Eileen W Tsai; William D Wallace; David W Gjertson; Elaine F Reed; Robert B Ettenger Journal: Transplantation Date: 2010-10-27 Impact factor: 4.939