title: Anti-B-Cell Therapies in Autoimmune Neurological Diseases: Rationale and Efficacy Trials.
abstract: B cells have an ever-increasing role in the etiopathology of a number of autoimmune neurological disorders, acting as antibody-producing cells and, most importantly, as sensors, coordinators, and regulators of the immune response. B cells, among other functions, regulate the T-cell activation process through their participation in antigen presentation and production of cytokines. The availability of monoclonal antibodies or fusion proteins against B-cell surface molecules or B-cell trophic factors bestows a rational approach for treating autoimmune neurological disorders, even when T cells are the main effector cells. This review summarizes basic aspects of B-cell biology, discusses the role(s) of B cells in neurological autoimmunity, and presents anti-B-cell drugs that are either currently on the market or are expected to be available in the near future for treating neurological autoimmune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alexopoulos
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biba
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. mdalakas@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Marinos C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dalakas
mesh_terms: D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D060151:B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
keywords: B cells; autoantibodies; autoimmunity; monoclonal antibodies.; neurological disorders; rituximab