Enhancement of Human B Cell Differentiation and Function in Lymph Nodes by the TLR9 Agonist MGN1703

TLR9 agonists are being developed as immunotherapies to increase immune effector cell activity against malignancies and pathogens. However, the in vivo impacts of TLR9 agonism on human B cells are incompletely known and the impacts of such treatments on human lymph node B cells are unknown. These are major knowledge gaps given the high TLR9 expression levels in B cells and the importance of lymph nodes for B cell activity. Therefore, we assessed TLR9 agonist-mediated effects on lymph node B cells as planned secondary endpoints within our clinical trial dosing the TLR9 agonist MGN1703 (Lefitolimod) in the context of developing an HIV cure strategy (NCT02443935). Overall design: RNA-seq for lymph nodes from patients at baseline and after 24 weeks of TLR9 agonist MGN1703 immunotherapy