sle - rituximab in lupus系统性红斑狼疮,利妥昔单抗在红斑狼疮.pdf

Available online /content/5/4/157 Commentary SLE Rituximab in lupus Robert Eisenberg Division of Rheumatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Corresponding author: Robert Eisenberg (e-mail: raemd@) Received: 5 Mar 2003 Accepted: 17 Mar 2003 Published: 15 Apr 2003 Arthritis Res Ther 2003, 5:157-159 (DOI 10.1186/ar759) © 2003 BioMed Central Ltd (Print ISSN 1478-6354; Online ISSN 1478-6362) Abstract B cells are essential to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab depletes B cells by targeting the pan-B-cell surface marker CD20. Preliminary experience with this agent in SLE and other autoimmune diseases has been encouraging. Controlled trials in SLE will be necessary to determine whether rituximab is useful therapy in this disease, and will teach us more about the roles of B cells in its pathogenesis. Keywords: B cells, CD20, rituximab, systemic lupus erythematosus Introduction: B cells in systemic lupus Other studies in mice genetically without B cells also erythematosus implicate B cells in a number of immunoregulatory interac- A central feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is tions that go beyond their clear role as the precursor of the loss of B-cell tolerance. At least some autoantibodies antibody forming cells [6]. B cells can regulate T cells, from a limited spectrum of reactivities against mainly intra- dendritic cells and other B cells. They can produc