Effect of Rituximab on the circulating levels of cytokines produced or not produced by B lymphocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints that can progress to bone destruction. Although the pathophysiology of RA is unclear, T cells and B cells are though to be involved. Rituximab (RTX), a drug that eliminates CD20 + B cells, has helped to clarify and highlight the role of B cells in RA. B cells can contribute to autoimmunity by mechanisms dependent on the production of antibodies and independent of this production. The latter may depend on the role of B cells as antigen-presenting cells for T cells and their capacity to produce cytokines and chemokines. To contribute to our understanding of this mechanism, studies that evaluated levels of circulating cytokines and chemokines in patients with RA after treatment with RTX were reviewed. Most cytokines studied decreased their levels in circulation after treatment with RTX. IL-10 and IL-6 consistently were decreased in patients responding to treatment and maybe markers of Rituximab treatment.

Keywords

• rheumatoid arthritis
• b-lymphocytes
• chemokines
• cytokines
• rituximab