The effect of B cell depletion on humoral responses during anit-CD20 mAb immunotherapy

• Project/Area Number: 20790790
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Dermatology
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: HAMAGUCHI Yasuhito Kanazawa University, 附属病院, 講師 (60420329)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2009
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2009)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2008: ¥3,120,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥720,000)
• Keywords: B細胞 / CD20 / 免疫応答

Research Abstract

The full effects of B cell depletion on humoral immunity are largely unknown. To address this issue, mature B cells were depleted in mice using CD20 mAb. CD20^+ B cell depletion prevented humoral immune responses and class switching, and depleted B cell memory. Nonetheless, B cell depletion did not affect serum Ig levels, Ag-specific antibody titers, or bone marrow antibody-secreting plasma cell numbers. Thus, depleting mature and memory B cells does not have a dramatic negative effect on pre-existing antibody levels.