Event Abstract Back to Event A single dose of rituximab does not deplete B cells in secondary lymphoid organs, but alters phenotype and function Elena Kamburova1*, Hans J. Koenen1, Kyra J. Borgman1, Ineke J. Ten Berge2, Irma Joosten1 and Luuk Hilbrands1 1 Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Netherlands 2 Academic Medical Centre, Netherlands A single dose of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab induces a nearly complete B-cell depletion in peripheral blood, but not in secondary lymphoid organs. Modulation of this remaining B-cell population due to rituximab treatment may contribute to the therapeutic effects of rituximab. To assess the in vivo effects of rituximab we used lymph nodes collected during renal transplant surgery in patients who had received rituximab four weeks earlier in preparation for an ABO-incompatible transplantation. Rituximab treatment resulted in a lower percentage of naïve (IgD+CD27-) and a higher percentage of switched memory (IgD-CD27+) B cells. Remarkably, transitional (CD24++CD38++) B cells were virtually lacking in the lymph nodes of rituximab-treated patients. Moreover, lymph node-derived B cells from rituximab-treated patients produced different amounts of various Ig-subclasses after anti-CD40/IL-21 stimulation ex vivo. Finally, after stimulation of allogeneic T cells with lymph node-derived B cells from rituximab-treated patients, the proliferated T cells showed a decreased production of IL-17. In conclusion, after treatment with rituximab there remains a B-cell population with different functional capacities. Consequently, the effect of rituximab on the immune response will not only be determined by the extent of B-cell depletion, but also by the functional properties of the remaining B cells. Keywords: B cell, rituximab, Lymph Nodes, T cell, Transplantation Immunology Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Translational immunology and immune intervention Citation: Kamburova E, Koenen HJ, Borgman KJ, Ten Berge IJ, Joosten I and Hilbrands L (2013). A single dose of rituximab does not deplete B cells in secondary lymphoid organs, but alters phenotype and function. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00642 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Jun 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Miss. Elena Kamburova, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands, kamburova.elena@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Elena Kamburova Hans J Koenen Kyra J Borgman Ineke J Ten Berge Irma Joosten Luuk Hilbrands Google Elena Kamburova Hans J Koenen Kyra J Borgman Ineke J Ten Berge Irma Joosten Luuk Hilbrands Google Scholar Elena Kamburova Hans J Koenen Kyra J Borgman Ineke J Ten Berge Irma Joosten Luuk Hilbrands PubMed Elena Kamburova Hans J Koenen Kyra J Borgman Ineke J Ten Berge Irma Joosten Luuk Hilbrands Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.