title: BAFF and selection of autoreactive B cells.
abstract: B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a crucial survival factor for transitional and mature B cells, and is a promising therapeutic target for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A BAFF inhibitor, belimumab, is the first new drug in 50 years to be approved for the treatment of SLE. However, the mechanism of action of this drug is not entirely clear. In this review we will focus on the role of the BAFF-APRIL signaling pathway in the selection of autoreactive B cells, and discuss whether altered selection is the mechanism for the therapeutic efficacy of BAFF inhibition in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autoimmunity and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, New York, NY 11030, USA.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D060966:Clonal Selection, Antigen-Mediated / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; C511911:belimumab