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B cells: New ways to inhibit their function in rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

The apparent efficacy of B-cell depletion in autoimmune diseases has increased interest in targeting B cells. One goal of next generation therapies is to develop treatments that block B-cell activation and preserve resting nonautoimmune cells that maintain B cell memory. To do so, one needs to understand how B cells are activated and what receptors and intracellular signaling pathways regulate this process. This paper will summarize B-cell activation pathways and illustrate how these are being targeted in the development of new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

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  1. Departments of Medicine & Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 409 LHRB, 701 19th Street South, 35294, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Robert H. Carter MD

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Carter, R.H. B cells: New ways to inhibit their function in rheumatoid arthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 6, 357–363 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-004-0010-7

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