Regulation of Cutaneous Inflammatory Cell Infiltrates by Benralizumab
At baseline, the number of mononuclear cells (predominantly lymphocytes) around perivascular capillaries in the lesional skin were significantly higher than in the adjacent non-lesional skin (mean difference=18±5 cells/field, p=0.006) (Figure 3 B, D, F ). Such differences were observed qualitatively when compared with samples from non-CSU control subjects (Figure 3 A ). Five of 9 subjects completing the study (56%) who responded completely to benralizumab had reduced mononuclear cell infiltrates. Comparison of mononuclear cell infiltrates from the two partial and two non-responder CSU subjects post-benralizumab vs. post-placebo, also was suggestive of benralizumab’s effect (Figure 3 B, E, F) with the mean reduction being approximately 17 cells/field (p=0.07). Skin infiltrates from non-lesional skin post-benralizumab were qualitatively similar to non-CSU (control) skin samples (Figure 3 A & C ). At baseline, the average mast cell count in lesional skin was higher compared to adjacent non-lesional skin, (average difference = 9 cells/field, p=0.2). These differences persisted after treatment with benralizumab (S-Figure 2 ).