Comprehensive genetic and functional analyses of Fc gamma receptors influence on response to rituximab therapy for autoimmunity

Robinson, JI, Md Yusof, MY, Davies, V, Wild, D, Morgan, M, Taylor, JC, El-Sherbiny, Y ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4791-3475, Morris, DL, Liu, L, Rawstron, AC, Buch, MH, Plant, D, Cordell, HJ, Isaacs, JD, Bruce, IN, Emery, P, Barton, A, Vyse, TJ, Barrett, H, Vital, EM and Morgan, AW, 2022. Comprehensive genetic and functional analyses of Fc gamma receptors influence on response to rituximab therapy for autoimmunity. EBioMedicine, 86: 104343. ISSN 2352-3964

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Abstract

Background: Rituximab is widely used to treat autoimmunity but clinical response varies. Efficacy is determined by the efficiency of B-cell depletion, which may depend on various Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-dependent mechanisms. Study of FcγR is challenging due to the complexity of the FCGR genetic locus. We sought to assess the effect of FCGR variants on clinical response, B-cell depletion and NK-cell-mediated killing in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in 835 patients [RA=573; SLE=262]. Clinical outcome measures were two-component disease activity score in 28-joints (2C-DAS28CRP) for RA and British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG)-2004 major clinical response (MCR) for SLE at 6 months. B-cells were evaluated by highly-sensitive flow cytometry. Single nucleotide polymorphism and copy number variation for genes encoding five FcγRs were measured using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Ex vivo studies assessed NK-cell antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and FcγR expression.

Findings: In RA, carriage of FCGR3A-158V and increased FCGR3A-158V copies were associated with greater 2C-DAS28CRP response (adjusted for baseline 2C-DAS28CRP). In SLE, MCR was associated with increased FCGR3A-158V, OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.12-2.41) and FCGR2C-ORF OR 1.93 (95% CI 1.09-3.40) copies. 236/413 (57%) patients with B-cell data achieved complete depletion. Homozygosity for FCGR3A-158V and increased FCGR3A-158V copies were associated with complete depletion in combined analyses. FCGR3A genotype was associated with rituximab-induced ADCC, and increased NK-cell FcγRIIIa expression was associated with improved clinical response and depletion in vivo. Furthermore, disease status and concomitant therapies impacted both NK-cell FcγRIIIa expression and ADCC.

Interpretation: FcγRIIIa is the major low affinity FcγR associated with rituximab response. Increased copies of the FCGR3A-158V allele (higher affinity for IgG1), influences clinical and biological responses to rituximab in autoimmunity. Enhancing FcγR-effector functions could improve the next generation of CD20-depleting therapies and genotyping may stratify patients for optimal treatment protocols.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: EBioMedicine
Creators: Robinson, J.I., Md Yusof, M.Y., Davies, V., Wild, D., Morgan, M., Taylor, J.C., El-Sherbiny, Y., Morris, D.L., Liu, L., Rawstron, A.C., Buch, M.H., Plant, D., Cordell, H.J., Isaacs, J.D., Bruce, I.N., Emery, P., Barton, A., Vyse, T.J., Barrett, H., Vital, E.M. and Morgan, A.W.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: December 2022
Volume: 86
ISSN: 2352-3964
Identifiers:
Number
Type
10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104343
DOI
1616277
Other
Divisions: Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by: Laura Ward
Date Added: 07 Nov 2022 11:13
Last Modified: 17 Jul 2023 13:11
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/47340

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