The monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab is frequently applied in the treatment of lymphoma as well as autoimmune diseases and confers efficient depletion of recirculating B cells. Correspondingly, B cell-depleted patients barely mount de novo antibody responses during infections or vaccinations. Therefore, efficient immune responses of B cell-depleted patients largely depend on protective T cell responses.
CD8
Rituximab-treated RA patients vaccinated with Influvac showed reduced expansion of influenza-specific CD8
Depending on the stimulus, B cells can modulate CD8