title: Development of anti-CD20 therapy for multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The therapeutic utility of the targeting of B lymphocytes is currently being evaluated in a range of autoimmune diseases that include multiple sclerosis (MS). For MS, even though intrathecal immunoglobulin production is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS), T cells have long been considered as the main effectors of pathogenesis. Recognition of the roles of autoreactive B cells has changed this conventional view of the disease and also provided a rationale for studies of anti-CD20 therapy in MS. Recent trials suggest that this approach may provide clinical benefits in some MS patients that equal or surpass currently approved approaches, yet not all patients may benefit. In this review we provide an overview on recent progress on these trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartok
authors.forename: Gregg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab