Featured Publications
Prior cycles of anti-CD20 antibodies affect antibody responses after repeated SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination
Asashima H, Kim D, Wang K, Lele N, Buitrago-Pocasangre N, Lutz R, Cruz I, Raddassi K, Ruff W, Racke M, Wilson J, Givens T, Grifoni A, Weiskopf D, Sette A, Kleinstein S, Montgomery R, Shaw A, Li F, Fan R, Hafler D, Tomayko M, Longbrake E. Prior cycles of anti-CD20 antibodies affect antibody responses after repeated SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. JCI Insight 2023, 8: e168102. PMID: 37606046, PMCID: PMC10543713, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.168102.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinationB-cell-depleted patientsB-cell depletionAntibody responseMRNA vaccinationThird doseCell depletionT cellsClaude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence CenterB cellsNational Multiple Sclerosis SocietyAnti-CD20 antibodySpike-specific antibodiesMultiple Sclerosis SocietyLow cumulative exposureLogistic regression modelsImportant clinical needCD20 therapyCD20 treatmentMost patientsThird vaccineSerologic responseVaccine dosesMRNA vaccinesVaccination strategies
2022
Infection risk in a real-world cohort of patients treated with long-term B-cell depletion for autoimmune neurologic disease
Peters J, Longbrake E. Infection risk in a real-world cohort of patients treated with long-term B-cell depletion for autoimmune neurologic disease. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2022, 68: 104400. PMID: 36544307, PMCID: PMC10075342, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104400.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong-term B-cell depletionB-cell depletionReal-world cohortSevere infectionsTotal infectionsSingle-center observational studyEffective disease-modifying therapiesInfectious adverse effectsFormer smoking statusRisk of hospitalizationAutoimmune neurologic diseasesAutoimmune neurologic disordersDisease-modifying therapiesYears of treatmentRate of infectionLong-term useImmunologic changesLaboratory abnormalitiesClinical factorsSmoking statusHigher BMIMultiple sclerosisSerious infectionsNeurologic disordersFemale genderImpaired TIGIT expression on B cells drives circulating follicular helper T cell expansion in multiple sclerosis
Asashima H, Axisa PP, Pham THG, Longbrake EE, Ruff WE, Lele N, Cohen I, Raddassi K, Sumida TS, Hafler DA. Impaired TIGIT expression on B cells drives circulating follicular helper T cell expansion in multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2022, 132: e156254. PMID: 36250467, PMCID: PMC9566906, DOI: 10.1172/jci156254.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRelapsing-remitting multiple sclerosisMemory B cellsCTfh cellsB cellsTIGIT expressionMultiple sclerosisT cellsFollicular helper T cellsHealthy age-matched controlsB-cell depletionT cell expansionHelper T cellsAge-matched controlsB cell functionB-cell pathwayDifferential gene expression signaturesTfh cellsDisease activityGene expression signaturesCell depletionCD40 ligandTranscription factor TCF4Disease pathogenesisImmune systemNew MRIThe CELLO trial: Protocol of a planned phase 4 study to assess the efficacy of Ocrelizumab in patients with radiologically isolated syndrome
Longbrake EE, Hua LH, Mowry EM, Gauthier SA, Alvarez E, Cross AH, Pei J, Priest J, Raposo C, Hafler DA, Winger RC. The CELLO trial: Protocol of a planned phase 4 study to assess the efficacy of Ocrelizumab in patients with radiologically isolated syndrome. Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders 2022, 68: 104143. PMID: 36031693, PMCID: PMC9772048, DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEfficacy of ocrelizumabMultiple sclerosisImmunologic biomarkersClinical trialsTransient B-cell depletionClinical multiple sclerosisCSF immune cellsEffects of ocrelizumabMS disease pathophysiologyNew brain lesionsOvert neurological symptomsB-cell depletionPlacebo-controlled studyPhase 4 studyLong-term outcomesPatient-reported outcomesPrimary progressive MSHumanized monoclonal antibodyFirst-degree relativesB cell biologySubtle cognitive impairmentEligible patientsImmune recoveryProgressive MSWeek 48Risks of Minor and Severe Infections in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Long-term B-cell Depletion (P13-4.011)
Peters J, Longbrake E. Risks of Minor and Severe Infections in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Long-term B-cell Depletion (P13-4.011). Neurology 2022, 98 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.98.18_supplement.1270.Peer-Reviewed Original Research