A routine-qualified flow cytometric method for the identification of multiple sclerosis patients with a reduced therapeutic effectiveness of natalizumab

Abstract

Background: Natalizumab-neutralizing antibodies (NABs) occur in 9% of natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Loss of clinical and biological efficacy in patients with persisting NABs requires termination of natalizumab treatment. Because high-titer NABs are strongly associated with persistence of NABs, we investigated if determination of natalizumab saturation levels of α -4 integrins by flow cytometry has the potential to identify patients early with NABs. Methods: Cell-bound natalizumab and natalizumab saturation of α -4 integrins on T cells were detected by flow cytometry using a monoclonal anti-human IgG4 antibody. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were enriched from venous blood collected at the start (baseline) and every 4 weeks immediately before subsequent infusions until up to 9 months from natalizumab-treated patients with NABs (n = 4) and at the start and after 1 (n = 15), 2 (n = 14), 3 (n = 9), 6 (n = 7), and 9 months (n = 3) from natalizumab-treated patients without NABs. Natalizumab saturation levels (in %) of T cells were determined by relating median fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of in vivo bound natalizumab to MFIs after in vitro incubation with saturating amounts of natalizumab. Determination of serum NABs was performed by ELISA. Results: In patients without NABs, the median natalizumab saturation level of T cells over 9 months was 75% (confidence interval of 95%: 72 -78%). In two of the four patients with NABs, the natalizumab saturation level of T cells only reached approximately 50% after the first infusion and further declined to baseline levels with the second infusion. Low-titer NABs were measured after the first infusion and development of persistent high-titer NABs led to termination of natalizumab treatment after 6 months. In another two patients, the natalizumab saturation level of T cells was 74% and 68% after the first infusion, temporarily decreased to approximately baseline levels and reincreased after approximately 6 months. Transient NABs