Baseline Plasma Cell Gene Signature Predicts Improvement in Systemic Sclerosis Skin Scores Following Treatment With Inebilizumab (MEDI‐551) and Correlates With Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective B cells impact the progression of systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) through multiple pathogenic mechanisms. CD19 inhibition in mice reduced skin thickness, collagen production, and autoantibody levels, consistent with CD19 expression on plasma cells (PCs), the source of antibody production. PC depletion could effectively reduce collagen deposition and inflammation in SSc; therefore, we investigated the effects of PC depletion on SSc disease activity. Methods A PC gene signature was evaluated in SSc skin biopsy samples in 2 phase I clinical trials. We assessed microarray data from tissue from public studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), dermatomyositis (DM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and atopic dermatitis, as well as blood from a phase IIb clinical trial in SLE. Results The PC signature was elevated in SSc skin specimens compared to healthy donor skin ( P = 2.28 × 10 −6 ) and correlated with the baseline modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS) (r = 0.64, P = 0.0004). Patients with a high PC signature at baseline showed greater improvement in the MRSS (mean ± SD change 35 ± 16%; P = 6.30 × 10 −4 ) following anti‐CD19 treatment with inebilizumab (MEDI‐551) than did patients with a low PC signature at baseline (mean ± SD change 8 ± 12%; P = 0.104). The PC signature was overexpressed in tissue from patients with SLE, DM, COPD, interstitial lung disease, and IPF relative to controls (all fold change >2; P < 0.001). The PC signature also differed significantly between SLE patients with mild‐to‐moderate disease and those with severe disease (SLE Disease Activity Index cutoff at 10) (fold change 1.44; P = 3.90 × 10 −3 ) and correlated significantly with the degree of emphysema in COPD (r = 0.53, P = 7.55 × 10 −8 ). Conclusion Our results support the notion that PCs have a role in the pathogenesis of SSc and other autoimmune or pulmonary indications. An elevated pretreatment PC signature was associated with increased benefit from MEDI‐551 in SSc.