To B or not to B--pathogenic and regulatory B cells in autoimmune diabetes.
B cells have a vitally important function to produce antibodies which are directly pathogenic in some autoimmune diseases. However, it is clear that a number of other B cell functions are also critical in the pathogenesis of organ-specific autoimmune diseases that were previously thought to be mainly T cell mediated. Therapeutic agents that target B cells and their functions may therefore be of considerable importance in these autoimmune diseases. In this review, we will focus on B cell characteristics and functions that contribute to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and discuss why anti-B cell treatment may be effective in T1D, a disease that was previously considered to be primarily T cell mediated.
Center for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. wongfs@cardiff.ac.uk
F Susan
FS
Wong
Changyun
C
Hu
Yufei
Y
Xiang
Li
L
Wen
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology