The future of lupus therapy modulating autoantigen recognition.
The mainstay of the current treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus consists of steroids and immunosuppressants. However, these non-specific immunosuppressive therapies can cause infection and other serious adverse events. The regulation of the autoantigen-specific immune response is a promising therapeutic approach with maximal efficacy and minimal adverse effects. T cells are essential components of antigen-specificity in the immune system. At present, we do not have a sufficient strategy for manipulating the responses of antigen-specific T cells. In this review, we describe the efficacy of two therapeutic approaches involving the modulation of autoantigen recognition by T cells in lupus model mice: (1) therapy involving engineered autoantigen-specific regulatory T cells generated by the gene transfer of autoantigen-specific TCR genes and appropriate regulatory genes into self lymphocytes; (2) therapy involving selective depletion of autoantigen presenting phagocytes. These selective immunosuppressive approaches could be useful strategies for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Okamoto
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Fujio
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Yamamoto
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001324:Autoantigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors