RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How does B cell depletion therapy work, and how can it be improved?
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP iv77
OP iv80
DO 10.1136/ard.2005.042507
VO 64
IS suppl 4
A1 E A Clark
A1 J A Ledbetter
YR 2005
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/64/suppl_4/iv77.abstract
AB The past few years have seen a surge of interest in B cell depletion therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This paper outlines the possible mechanism(s) by which B cell depletion therapy works. It is likely there is more than one mechanism and the relative importance of each mechanism depends on the target cell. These include CD20-induced apoptosis, complement dependent cytotoxicity, antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and selective targeting and depletion of B cell subsets. The implications of these mechanisms in the further improvement of B cell depletion therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are discussed.