title: Clonal analysis of B-cell response in pemphigus course: toward more effective therapies.
abstract: In this issue, Hammers et al. report the first longitudinal study of B-cell responses in pemphigus vulgaris. They show persistence of the same sets of anti-desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) B-cell clones over time in two patients with active disease, suggesting that escape from tolerance is not a frequent event. In addition, the disappearance of anti-Dsg3 B-cell clones in two patients during long-term rituximab-induced remission supports the therapeutic potential of rituximab.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Di Zenzo
authors: Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: g.zambruno@idi.it.
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Zambruno
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D051184:Desmoglein 3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G