Beyond transitional selection: New roles for BLyS in peripheral tolerance.

Abstract

B cell targeted therapies have enjoyed recent success in the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases. Among these, Belimumab, which blocks the B cell survival cytokine BLyS, was recently approved for the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. It is therefore important to consider the roles BLyS plays in B cell tolerance. Herein, we review how BLyS contributes to the negative selection of autoreactive B cell clones from the preimmune repertoire as well as its role in regulating both germinal center and extrafollicular peripheral B cell responses. We further examine the complex role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in humoral autoimmunity, pointing out potential crosstalk between BLyS and TLR pathways.

• Authors: Michael A Oropallo, Kerstin Kiefer, Ann Marshak-Rothstein, Michael P Cancro
• Journal: Drug development research (Drug Dev Res) Vol. 72 Issue 8 Pg. 779-787 (Dec 2011) ISSN: 1098-2299 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22323842 (Publication Type: Journal Article)