title: The role of B lymphocyte stimulator in B cell biology: implications for the treatment of lupus.
abstract: B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS; also known as B cell activating factor (BAFF)) plays a key role in peripheral B cell tolerance. Mounting evidence indicates that B cell tolerance can be either broken or modulated by deliberately manipulating BLyS levels, and belimumab, a BLyS-neutralizing antibody, was recently approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thus, intense investigation has focused on understanding how therapeutics targeting BLyS may work, and accumulating evidence suggests multiple points of action. BLyS signaling, in conjunction with B cell receptor (BCR) signaling, determines the size and quality of the mature primary B cell compartment. Moreover, BLyS family members play roles in antigen-experienced B cell selection and differentiation. Together, these findings have implications for the continued development of novel therapeutics that target BLyS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6082, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oropallo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sindhava
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goenka
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cancro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017277:Drug Approval; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C511911:belimumab