title: The role of B-cells in heart failure.
abstract: Heart failure is a complex disease that has great impact on morbidity and mortality in the general population. No recent therapies have proven to be effective; however, the discovery of new potential pathophysiological mechanisms involved in heart failure expression and progression could offer novel therapeutic strategies. A number of studies have shown that the immune system may be a central mediator in the development and progression of heart failure, and here we describe how the B-cell and B-cell-mediated pathways play specific roles in the heart failure state. Therapies aimed at B-cells, either blocking antibody production or inactivating B-cell function, may suggest potential new treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cordero-Reyes
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Youker
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torre-Amione
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: B-cell; auto-antibodies; cardiomyopathy; humoral; immune system