A therapeutic role for BLyS antagonists.
B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is a vital B cell survival factor. Overexpression of BLyS in mice may lead to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease, and treatment of bona fide SLE mice with BLyS antagonists ameliorates disease progression and enhances survival. BLyS overexpression is common in human SLE, and results from a phase I clinical trial with a BLyS antagonist in human SLE have shown the antagonist to be biologically active and safe. These features collectively point to BLyS as an attractive therapeutic target in human disease.
Stohl
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Division of Rheumatology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033, USA. stohl@usc.edu
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000628:therapy*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051379:Mice; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; C505720:Tnfsf13b protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha