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Suh: B Cell Targeted Therapy in Rheumatic Disease
Review Article
Journal of Rheumatic Diseases

Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2012; 19(2): 67-72.

Published online: 30 April 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2012.19.2.67

B Cell Targeted Therapy in Rheumatic Disease

Chang-Hee Suh

Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

Corresponding to: Chang-Hee Suh, Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5, Woncheon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 443-721, Korea. chsuh@ajou.ac.kr

Received 5 April 2012       Revised 17 April 2012       Accepted 17 April 2012

Copyright © 2012 by The Korean College of Rheumatology

(free-access):

This is a Free Access article, which permits unrestricted non-commerical use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

B cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. B cells not only produce pathogenic autoantibodies, but also present self-antigens to T cells and provide costimulatory signals for self-reactiveT cells. Recently, biologics have been tried in several autoimmune diseases as immune modulators with some promising results. Among them, several biologic agents that target B cells have led to improved patients' outcomes and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These agents either deplete B cells by targeting B cell surface antigens, such as CD20 and CD22, or block B cell survival by inhibiting the activity of B cell survival factors, such as BLyS and APRIL. Initially, I discuss briefly the role of B cells in driving autoimmune diseases, and then focus on the efficacy and safety data of the B cell-targeted therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Keywords: B cell, Target, Treatment, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus

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