Long-lived autoreactive plasma cells drive persistent autoimmune inflammation

F Hiepe, T Dörner, AE Hauser, BF Hoyer… - Nature Reviews …, 2011 - nature.com
Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2011nature.com
Aberrant production of autoantibodies by inappropriately self-reactive plasma cells is an
inherent characteristic of autoimmune diseases. Several therapeutic strategies aim to
deplete the plasma cell pool, or to prevent maturation of B cells into plasma cells. However,
accepted views of B-cell biology are changing; recent findings show that long-lived plasma
cells refractory to immunosuppressants and B-cell depletion therapies contribute to the
maintenance of humoral memory and, in autoimmunity, to autoreactive memory. As a …
Abstract
Aberrant production of autoantibodies by inappropriately self-reactive plasma cells is an inherent characteristic of autoimmune diseases. Several therapeutic strategies aim to deplete the plasma cell pool, or to prevent maturation of B cells into plasma cells. However, accepted views of B-cell biology are changing; recent findings show that long-lived plasma cells refractory to immunosuppressants and B-cell depletion therapies contribute to the maintenance of humoral memory and, in autoimmunity, to autoreactive memory. As a consequence of their longevity and persistence, long-lived plasma cells can support chronic inflammatory processes in autoimmune diseases by continuously secreting pathogenic antibodies, and they can contribute to flares of symptoms. As long-lived plasma cells are not sufficiently eliminated by current therapies, these findings are extremely relevant to the development of novel concepts for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Thus, long-lived plasma cells appear to be a promising new therapeutic target.
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