Experts discussed the latest knowledge on B cell disease processes, and what it might mean for future B cell depletion therapies.
B Cell-Directed Therapy May Delay RA Development in High-Risk Patients
New evidence from a clinical trial of rituximab has identified the pathogenetic role of B cells in the earliest, pre-arthritis stage of autoantibody-positive RA…
B Cell Receptor Clones May Predict RA Onset
Researchers have determined that dominant B cell receptor (BCR) clones in peripheral blood may predict the onset of clinical signs and symptoms of RA…
Neutrophils & B Cells Create Unique Antibodies in Lupus Patients
NETs or LL37-DNA complexes may serve as future targets for SLE therapy. In a recent study, researchers identified a link between neutrophils and NETs, and the activation of self-reactive B cells. Their study describes a neutrophil-B cell interaction unique to lupus…
Autoreactive Germinal Centers: A Single Autoreactive B Cell Clone Can Drive Autoimmunity
A study in mice provides insight into the maturation of the self-reactive B cell response, contextualizing the epitope spreading observed in autoimmune disease. Researchers found that clonal expansion of wild type B cells in autoreactive germinal centers appeared to be at the heart of epitope spreading and the consequent autoimmune response…
BAFF: A Fulcrum Between Resistance to Infection & Autoimmunity
New research has linked a TNFSF13B variant and B cell activating factor (BAFF), a common therapeutic target, with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The variant is a disease-risk allele associated with increased levels of soluble BAFF…
Human Immune System Likened to Model of Military Efficiency
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Speaking at the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in a session titled ARHP: Immunology Boot Camp I: Basis of Targeted Therapy, a rheumatologist and immunology expert gave a guided tour of the immune system, described what can go wrong with it and outlined what physicians can do when it does. Troy Torgerson, MD, PhD, associate…
Peripheral Helper Cells May Provide Clue to RA Pathology
Research has identified a subset of T cells, peripheral helper (TPH) cells, which may promote pathological B cell responses and antibody production in patients with seropositive RA. TPH cells also express chemokine receptors, enabling them to infiltrate inflamed parts of the body and stimulate B cells to produce antibodies…
Patients with Lupus: Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Fail to Induce Regulatory B Cells
A recent study found that plasmacytoid dentricitic cells (pDCs) control the differentiation of immature B cells into regulatory B (Breg) cells or plasmablast, depending on the concentration of IFNα. For patients with SLE, researchers found that immune regulatory feedback between pDCs and Breg cells is dysfunctional, with the exception of patients who respond to rituximab…
Abaloparatide Effective for Osteoporosis & XmAb5871 Studied to Treat SLE
Abaloparatide has completed clinical trials, which showed the treatment to be safe and effective in reducing fracture rates in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Also, XmAb5871 is being studied to treat systemic lupus erythematosus and doesn’t destroy B cells…