Neurológia pre prax 3/2020

Ocrelizumab is dampening the harm inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosis with little impact on protective immunity

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is immunopathological neurodegenerative disease in which the key role was up to recently gained to the abnormaly polarized Th1 and Th17 subsets of T cells. The participation of B cell system has been for long time almost neglected. Recently, it has been evidenced both experimentally and clinically that B cells are an integral part of the immunopathogenesis of MS. Biological therapy targeting the molecule CD20 specifically expressed on mature B cells clearly demonstrated that this previous assumption was wrong as an excellent clinical response is achieved by this therapy with favourite safety profile. Protective components of immunity, such as production of antibodies and renewal of B cells are preserved. Administration of antiCD20 ocrelizumab is followed by significant decrease in the number of peripheral blood B cells. The drop in B cell count in blood serves as a surrogate biomarker of clinical efficacy of ocrelizumab therapy of MS.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis, B cells, molecule CD20, biological therapy, ocrelizumab, B cells count, efficacy, safety