Abstract
Background: Some omalizumab effects in asthma are attributed to a reduction of the high-affinity IgE receptor on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs). Effects of benralizumab, a humanised anti-interleukin-5 receptor α monoclonal antibody, on DCs are unknown.
Methods: In this study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03652376), patients with severe eosinophilic asthma were treated with 3 doses of 30 mg Benralizumab: at study inclusion (baseline), 1 month and 2 months after study inclusion, and assessed at baseline, 3 months (time point 2) and 5 months (time point 3) after study inclusion. Blood DCs were measured using four-colour flow cytometry.
Results: Twenty patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (median age: 56.5 years; 11 men, 9 women) were included. Benralizumab treatment led to a depletion of blood eosinophils (0 cells / µl) and a significant increase in asthma control (median ACT score from 11 to 21 points). There were no differences in DC counts and in the expression of function-associated surface molecules on myeloid DCs between baseline and time point 2. Benralizumab treatment led to a reduction of the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI; median expression at baseline: 85.2%, at time point 2: 72.6%, p=0.017) and the high-affinity IgG receptor (CD64; median expression at baseline: 11.7%, at time point 2: 5.5%, p=0.002) on plasmacytoid DCs.
Conclusion: Benralizumab treatment reduces the high-affinity IgE receptor on plasmacytoid DCs, suggesting certain similiarities in the immunological effects of omalizumab and benralizumab in severe asthma. Funding: This investigator-initiated study was funded by AstraZeneca (ESR-16-124 73).
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, OA3801.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019