Objective To observe the effect of rituximab(RTX)on NK cell activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity(ADCC)activity of NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis(MS)at relapse stage and its mechanism.Methods A total of 28 patients with MS at relapse stage were recruited as a case group.Subjects without autoimmune diseases or major infectious diseases were selected as a healthy control group(n=25).Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)were prepared from two groups to detect the proportions of B cells and natural killer(NK)cells and NK cell activation level before and after treatment with rituximab.Direct contact co-culture system was established between PBMCs and K562 cells to detect the release of effector factors from NK cell ADCC after RTX treatment.Results Rituximab induced a significant downregulation of the proportions of B cells and NK cells in the peripheral blood in case and healthy control groups,induced NK cell activation,upregulated ADCC function in healthy control group,but did not remarkably affect NK cell activation and ADCC function in case group.Conclusion Rituximab can induce the downregulation of the proportions of B cells and NK cells in patients with MS at relapse stage,but has no significant effect on the activation of NK cells and their ADCC function.
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