Legends
Figure 1: Patients with limited disease show higher serum
rituximab levels. Serum rituximab levels of the B-NHL cohort at day
five after treatment. Rituximab levels (µg/ml) of patients, grouped
after the B-NHL stratification criteria in R1/R2 (n = 6) and R3/R4 (n =
8), were measured with an ELISA at day five after treatment. Patients
with limited disease (risk groups R1 and R2) presented with a
significantly higher median serum rituximab level of 250 µg/ml than
patients with advanced disease (risk groups R3 and R4) with 40 µg/ml
(p = 0.0001). An unpaired two-tailed student’s t-test was
performed.
Figure 2: Flow cytometric analysis of FcγR expression in
monocyte subtypes before (A) and at day five after (B) rituximab
treatment. FcγR expression in classical (cl,
CD14+CD16-), intermediate (int,
CD14+CD16+) and non-classical
(non-cl, CD14lowCD16+) monocytes was
analyzed. FcγRI expression was significantly increased in classical
monocytes (p = 0.002). FcγRII expression was significantly
decreased in classical and intermediate monocytes, while FcγRIII
expression was not influenced by rituximab treatment (p = 0.023
and p = 0.006). Samples were measured in duplicates (n = 10).
Expression levels are displayed as median fluorescent intensity (MFI). A
paired two-tailed student’s t-test was performed.
Figure 3: S100A9 and S100A12 expression is increased in monocyte
subtypes at day five after rituximab treatment while serum levels are
decreased. A S100A9 and S100A12 expression was measured via flow
cytometry before (A) and at day five after (B) rituximab treatment in
classical (cl, CD14+CD16-),
intermediate (int, CD14+CD16+) and
non-classical (non-cl, CD14lowCD16+)
monocytes. S100A9 expression significantly increased after rituximab
treatment in all monocyte subtypes (p = 0.005, p = 0.009
and p = 0.031). S100A12 expression significantly increased in
classical and intermediate monocytes after rituximab treatment (p= 0.037 and p = 0.024). Expression levels are displayed as median
fluorescent intensity (MFI). A paired two-tailed student’s t-test was
performed (n = 10). B Serum S100A8/9 and S100A12 levels were
measured with an ELISA before (A) and at day five after (B) rituximab
treatment. Conversely to expression levels, serum S100A8/9 and S100A12
levels significantly decreased after treatment (p = 0.021 andp = 0.012). Values are displayed in ng/ml. A paired two-tailed
student’s t-test was performed (n = 10).
Figure 4: CD57, PRF1 and GrzB expression is decreased in NK
cells at day 5 after rituximab treatment. CD57, perforin (PRF1) and
granzyme B (GrzB) expression was measured via flow cytometry before (A)
and at day five after (B) rituximab treatment in NK cells. CD57
(p = 0.006), PRF1 (p = 0.045) and GrzB (p = 0.028)
expression were significantly decreased at day five after rituximab
treatment in NK cells. Expression levels are displayed as median
fluorescent intensity (MFI) in CD56+ positive cells. A
paired two-tailed student’s t-test was performed (n = 12).