title: Roles of B cells in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: B lymphocytes play several critical roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. They are the source of the rheumatoid factors and anticitrullinated protein antibodies, which contribute to immune complex formation and complement activation in the joints. B cells are also very efficient antigen-presenting cells, and can contribute to T cell activation through expression of costimulatory molecules. B cells both respond to and produce the chemokines and cytokines that promote leukocyte infiltration into the joints, formation of ectopic lymphoid structures, angiogenesis, and synovial hyperplasia. The success of B cell depletion therapy in rheumatoid arthritis may depend on disruption of all these diverse functions.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Disease Core Center and Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. gsilverman@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Gregg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Carson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002956:Citrulline; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005956:Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D013585:Synovitis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D002956:Citrulline; D005956:Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase