Are B cells a potential target for therapeutic intervention in the classical T cell-mediated autoimmune disease type 1 diabetes?
Incidence of autoimmune diseases is rising rapidly in the developed world and treatment of such diseases will be a major burden on Government health resources of the future. Whether systemic or organ-specific, immune cell destruction of the target tissue normally requires co-operative interaction of a many distinct immune cells. Detailed knowledge of the cells and signal pathways involved in tissue destruction is paramount to the design of novel therapeutics. Several organ-specific autoimmune diseases e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes have long been attributed to T cell-mediated destruction of the target tissue. However, recent reports from both murine models and man have suggested that B cells are principal players in these T cell-mediated diseases. In this review, we discuss the evidence that supports a link between B cells and the autoaggressive T cell response in type 1 diabetes and how accumulating evidence suggests targeting B cells may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for this autoimmune disease.
Wållberg
Maja
M
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Department of Pathology, Cambridge University, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB20XY, UK.
Green
Elizabeth A
EA
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D000069283:Rituximab; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D000069283:Rituximab; C511911:belimumab