PMC

Threshold of 26% for CD27⁺ B cells as a predictor of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor response. (A) Association of CD27⁺ B-cell proportion ≥26% and <26% at baseline and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) after 3 months of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy (P = 0.01). (B) Association of CD27⁺ B-cell proportion ≥26% at baseline and European League Against Rheumatism response (4.9 (1.3 to 18.6); P = 0.02). Each data point represents one participant. Horizontal bars are medians, and whiskers are IQR (25th to 75th percentile).

CD27⁺ memory B cells were greater producers of tumor necrosis factor α than naïve B cells and inversely correlated with interferon γ–producing CD4⁺ cells in tumor necrosis factor–naïve patients. (A) Flow cytometry of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) production by CD27⁺ memory B cells and naïve CD27^-IgD⁺ B cells in 14 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients at baseline (P < 0.001). Each data point represents one participant. Horizontal bars are medians, and whiskers are IQR (25th to 75 percentile). IgD, Immunoglobulin D; SSC-A, Side-scatter area (B) Correlation of proportion of CD27⁺ memory B cells and interferon γ (IFN-γ)–producing CD4⁺ cells in patients without therapy (TNFi^-, n = 14) and with therapy (TNFi⁺, n = 8).

Proportion of CD27⁺ memory B cells predicts response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy. (A) Patients with response (R) or no response (NR) (according to European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria) to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) at baseline (M0) (P = 0.01). The gray line indicates 26% of memory B cells, the best threshold at which to separate responders and nonresponders. (B) Levels of CD27⁺ B cells at baseline correlated with change in Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DeltaDAS28) during the first 3 months of TNFi treatment (P = 0.05). Each data point represents one participant. Horizontal bars are medians, and whiskers are IQR (25th to 75th percentile).