title: The role of B cells in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1% of the population. Recent studies demonstrate a significant improvement in clinical symptoms in patients treated with Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that depletes pro-B cells and mature B cells but not plasma cells. These findings indicate that B cells are an important contributor to the pathogenesis of RA. In this review we will examine the role of B cells in several different murine models of RA. There are a number of antibody-dependent mechanisms by which B cells support inflammatory processes in the joint. However, there are also antibody-independent mechanisms that involve B cell/T cell collaboration where B cells may modulate autoreactive T cell responses. In addition, B cells may be an important source of cytokines that either stimulate or inhibit autoimmune responses. Understanding the role of B cells in RA will provide new and directed therapeutic approaches to the treatment of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Tibor T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Glant
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finnegan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines