title: CD20-depleting therapy in autoimmune diseases: from basic research to the clinic.
abstract: The B lymphocyte-associated antigen CD20 is becoming an important immunotherapy target for autoimmune diseases, although its biological function has not been defined. Besides rheumatoid arthritis, growing experience with B cell-depleting therapy indicates that it may be effective in Sjögren's syndrome, dermatomyositis-polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and some types of vasculitides. However, controlled clinical trials are still lacking for some of these indications. Infection has not been seen as a major limitation to this therapy, but reports of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in an extremely small number of patients are of concern. Here, we review the therapeutic actions of anti-CD20 antibodies, and the recent and ongoing clinical trials with CD20-depleting therapy in autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology (DIMO), University of Bari Medical School, I-70124Bari, Italy. f.perosa@dimo.uniba.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perosa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prete
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Racanelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dammacco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab