title: Targeting B cells for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The role of B cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been debated for decades. However, recent clinical trial data indicating that depletion of B cells in RA patients is of therapeutic benefit has validated the importance of this cell type in the pathogenesis of the disease. Elucidation of the molecular basis of B cell development and activation has allowed the identification of a number of possible therapeutic targets that are appealing for drug development. This review discusses briefly a number of these molecules and the rationale for targeting them for the treatment of RA.
authors.affiliation: Roche Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, California, USA. tom.oligino@roche.com
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Oligino
authors.forename: Stacie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dalrymple
mesh_terms: D000077329:Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D000069283:Rituximab; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C095085:CXCR5 protein, human; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D054380:Receptors, CXCR5; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069283:Rituximab; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000077329:Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase