title: Long-lived autoreactive plasma cells drive persistent autoimmune inflammation.
abstract: Aberrant production of autoantibodies by inappropriately self-reactive plasma cells is an inherent characteristic of autoimmune diseases. Several therapeutic strategies aim to deplete the plasma cell pool, or to prevent maturation of B cells into plasma cells. However, accepted views of B-cell biology are changing; recent findings show that long-lived plasma cells refractory to immunosuppressants and B-cell depletion therapies contribute to the maintenance of humoral memory and, in autoimmunity, to autoreactive memory. As a consequence of their longevity and persistence, long-lived plasma cells can support chronic inflammatory processes in autoimmune diseases by continuously secreting pathogenic antibodies, and they can contribute to flares of symptoms. As long-lived plasma cells are not sufficiently eliminated by current therapies, these findings are extremely relevant to the development of novel concepts for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Thus, long-lived plasma cells appear to be a promising new therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Klinik m.S. Rheumatologie und Klin. Immunologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany. falk.hiepe@charite.de
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hiepe
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dörner
authors.forename: Anja E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Bimba F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radbruch
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000502:physiology*