Th17 and CD24 hi CD27 + regulatory B lymphocytes are biomarkers of response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis

The aim was to describe the regulatory B and T cells (Breg and Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) lymphocytes before and under treatment with biologic drugs, and to assess their potential predictive value as biomarkers of response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This was a non-randomised, single-centre, prospective study. Patients with active RA (American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010) who required the initiation or switch to any biologic drug except rituximab were included. The main judgement criterion was the frequency and absolute number of CD24 CD27 Breg and CD24 CD38 T2/Breg cells, CD25 CD127 Treg and CD45RA CD161 CCR6 Th17 cells measured at inclusion in both patients and controls, and after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment (M1, M3 and M6) in patients with RA, and compared with the M6 response to treatment (EULAR response and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) remission). Thirty-one patients with RA and 17 controls were included. There was a reduction in T2/Breg frequency at M0 in patients (p