Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học General Psychiatry cung cấp cho các bạn kiến thức về ngành y đề tài: The current status of targeting BAFF/BLyS for autoimmune diseases. | Available online http content 6 5 197 Commentary The current status of targeting BAFF BLyS for autoimmune diseases Meera Ramanujam and Anne Davidson Departments of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx NY USA Corresponding author Anne Davidson davidson@ Received 13 Apr 2004 Revisions requested 6 Jul 2004 Revisions received 7 Jul 2004 Accepted 13 Jul 2004 Published 29 Jul 2004 Arthritis Res Ther 2004 6 197-202 DOI ar1222 2004 BioMed Central Ltd Abstract It is increasingly recognized that B cells have multiple functions that contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Specific targeting of B cells might therefore be an appropriate therapeutic intervention. The tumor necrosis factor-like molecule BAFF BLyS is a key B cell survival factor and its receptors are expressed on most peripheral B cells. Several different BAFF antagonists are under development and in early clinical trials. We review here the rationale for BAFF blockade and its predicted mechanism of action in autoimmune diseases. Keywords autoimmune diseases B cells BAFF BLyS co-stimulation therapy Introduction B cells are important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. They produce autoantibodies that mediate tissue injury they function as antigen-presenting cells that present epitopes of self-antigen to autoreactive T cells and they produce soluble mediators involved in the organization of lymphoid tissues and in the initiation and perpetuation of inflammatory processes 1 . In some autoimmune diseases B cells migrate to inflamed sites where they act as local effector cells 2 3 . Because autoreactive B cells have a role in both the inductive and effector arms of autoimmune disease there is considerable interest in B cell depletion or modulation as a therapeutic strategy. BAFF APRIL and their receptors The B cell survival factor BAFF BLyS TNFSF13b a member of the TNF family is expressed on the surface of monocytes
