title: How does B cell depletion therapy work, and how can it be improved?
abstract: The past few years have seen a surge of interest in B cell depletion therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This paper outlines the possible mechanism(s) by which B cell depletion therapy works. It is likely there is more than one mechanism and the relative importance of each mechanism depends on the target cell. These include CD20-induced apoptosis, complement dependent cytotoxicity, antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and selective targeting and depletion of B cell subsets. The implications of these mechanisms in the further improvement of B cell depletion therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and National Primate Research Center, Box 357330, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. eclark@bart.rprc.washington.edu
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ledbetter
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion / Q000379:methods*