title: The rationale for BAFF inhibition in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BAFF (B-cell-activating factor) is a critical survival factor for transitional and mature B cells and is a promising therapeutic target for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In 2010-2011, two phase 3 clinical trials showed that the addition of the anti-BAFF antibody belimumab to standard-of-care therapy in patients with moderately active SLE results in a better outcome at 52 weeks than standard-of-care therapy alone. Belimumab has been US Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of SLE, and other drugs that target BAFF are now in various stages of clinical testing. This review describes the function of BAFF and its homolog APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) and addresses the rationale for the treatment of SLE with BAFF/APRIL inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autoimmunity and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA. adavidson1@nshs.edu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C114631:TNFSF13 protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13; C511911:belimumab