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. 2025 Jun 18;27(1):126.
doi: 10.1186/s13075-025-03584-x.

Prospective analysis of B cell subset dynamics following telitacicept treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus

Xiaowei Chen  1 , Lingzhen Hu  1 , Lingxiao Zhu  2 , Jianxin Tu  1 , Jiajun Gui  1 , Mengyuan Fang  1 , Li Sun  3
Affiliations

Prospective analysis of B cell subset dynamics following telitacicept treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus

Xiaowei Chen et al. Arthritis Res Ther. .

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease marked by B cell activation and autoantibody formation. Telitacicept, a dual inhibitor of the B cell pathway, neutralizes signals from B lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in detailed B cell subsets in SLE patients following Telitacicept treatment.

Methods: Twenty active SLE patients (SLEDAI-2 K ≥ 6) were enrolled, with B cell subsets analyses and clinical assessments conducted at 0, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after initiating Telitacicept treatment. Additionally, B cell subsets were measured in 21 healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to quantify B cell subsets.

Results: After six months of treatment, a 95% (19/20) SRI-4 response rate and a 35% (7/20) achievement of LLDAS were recorded. Compared to baseline, there were significant reductions in SLEDAI-2 K scores and anti-dsDNA levels (both p < 0.001), along with increases in complement C3 and C4 levels (both p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in 24-h urine protein levels (p = 0.004). B cell subset analysis revealed decreases in total B cells (p < 0.05), transitional B cells, naive B cells, and short-lived plasma cells (all p < 0.01). The proportion of B regulatory (Breg) cell increased (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Combining telitacicept with standard therapy induced significant changes in B cell subsets and clinical markers in SLE patients. The reduction in naive and transitional B cells, along with the restoration of Breg cell, suggests a potential positive influence on immunoregulatory capacity.

Trial registration: Chineses Clinical Trials Registry; https://www.chictr.org.cn ; ChiCTR2400086874.

Keywords: B cell subsets; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Telitacicept.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Clinical Research of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (approval number KY2021-197). Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their inclusion in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effects of telitacicept treatment on clinical markers in the ITT patients with SLE. The markers assessed include SLEDAI-2 K, ANA, anti-dsDNA, complement C3 and C4, IgG, IgA, IgM, urinary urinary red blood cell, and 24-h urine protein in SLE patients from baseline (T0) to weeks 4 (T4w), 12 (T12w), and 24 (T24w). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effects of telitacicept treatment on B-Cell Subset Absolute Counts in the ITT SLE patients. Abbreviations: HC, Healthy control; DNB, Double-negative B cells; Breg, B regulatory cells.*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001
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