Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Rapid Depletion of Renal Macrophages Using Human CD59/Intermedilysin Cell Ablation Tool
Published on: May 9, 2025
Ocrelizumab depletes T-lymphocytes more than rituximab in multiple sclerosis
Nicola Capasso1, Agostino Nozzolillo1, Giulia Scalia2
1Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Care and Research Centre, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Background:
We aim to directly compare changes in lymphocyte subpopulations between chimeric (rituximab) and humanised (ocrelizumab) anti-CD20 antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods:
In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, we included 88 patients with MS, treated with rituximab (n=50) or ocrelizumab (n=38). We used flow cytometry in the peripheral blood to count total lymphocytes and lymphocytes expressing different phenotypic markers (CD4, CD8, CD19, CD20, CD4/CD8 ratio), before treatment and after 1, 3 and 6 months.
Results:
On linear mixed effect regression models, after 1, 3 and 6 months, patients treated with rituximab and with ocrelizumab were similar in total lymphocyte count, CD19 lymphocytes, CD20 lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio. However, patients treated with ocrelizumab presented with lower CD4 T lymphocytes and CD8 T lymphocytes after 1, 3 and 6 months (all p<0.05). No between-treatment difference in EDSS progression was found.
Discussion:
B-cell levels in the peripheral blood were equally decreased by rituximab and ocrelizumab. On the contrary, CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte reduction was more pronounced in ocrelizumab, when compared with rituximab, suggesting a broader immunomodulatory effect for the humanised antibody to be confirmed and correlated with clinical efficacy in the long term.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids

