The clinical data of the proof-of-concept-study about tocilizumab (TCZ) monotherapy after ultra-short glucocorticoid (GC) administration in giant cell arteritis (GCA) was published in The Lancet Rheumatology (https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00152-1).

In this manuscript we summarize and analyze the T cell data of the mentioned study:

This is the first study analyzing circulating regulatory T cells in newly diagnosed GCA cases prior to GC administration.

The study design allowed a comparative analysis of T cell responses to GCs and TCZ.

The data suggests a different type of regulatory T cells being involved in control of disease.

Giant cell arteritis

Methylprednisolone

Tocilizumab

Regulatory T cells

CD15s

FOXP3 EXON2

Regulatory T cells

Temporal artery biopsies

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.