title: Rituximab immunotherapy in pemphigus: therapeutic effects beyond B-cell depletion.
abstract: The anti-CD20 mAb rituximab, first approved for use in B-cell malignancies, is increasingly used to treat a variety of autoimmune diseases. Two studies in this issue investigate the effects of rituximab in pemphigus. Rituximab induces not only a depletion of all B cells and a decline of antidesmoglein autoantibodies but also a decrease in desmoglein-specific T cells. Furthermore, B-cell populations recovered after treatment were modified. These novel aspects may contribute to the clinical responses observed in patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. gianna.zambruno@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zambruno
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borradori
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000737:chemistry; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D051182:Desmogleins / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D051182:Desmogleins; D000069283:Rituximab