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Cheekati M, Murakhovskaya I. Anti-B-Cell-Activating Factor (BAFF) Therapy: A Novel Addition to Autoimmune Disease Management and Potential for Immunomodulatory Therapy in Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1597. [PMID: 39062171 PMCID: PMC11275058 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Although rituximab is not specifically approved for the treatment of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (WAIHA), the First International Consensus Group recommends considering its use as part of the initial therapy for patients with severe disease and as a second-line therapy for primary WAIHA. Some patients do not respond to rituximab, and relapses are common. These relapses are associated with elevated B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels and the presence of quiescent long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) in the spleen. A new group of immunomodulatory drugs, B-cell-activating factor inhibitors (BAFF-i), demonstrated efficacy in multiple autoimmune diseases and have the potential to improve WAIHA treatment outcomes by targeting B-cells and LLPCs. This article reviews the role of BAFF in autoimmune disorders and the currently available literature on the use of BAFF-directed therapies in various immunologic disorders, including WAIHA. Collectively, the clinical data thus far shows robust potential for targeting BAFF in WAIHA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irina Murakhovskaya
- Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Zhang Y, Tian J, Xiao F, Zheng L, Zhu X, Wu L, Zhao C, Wang S, Rui K, Zou H, Lu L. B cell-activating factor and its targeted therapy in autoimmune diseases. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2021; 64:57-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Wu F, Gao J, Kang J, Wang X, Niu Q, Liu J, Zhang L. B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis:Pathogenic Mechanisms and Treatment Prospects. Front Immunol 2021; 12:750753. [PMID: 34650569 PMCID: PMC8505880 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.750753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common, chronic, systemic autoimmune disease, and its clinical features are the proliferation of joint synovial tissue, the formation of pannus and the destruction of cartilage. The global incidence of RA is about 1%, and it is more common in women. The basic feature of RA is the body’s immune system disorders, in which autoreactive CD4+T cells, pathogenic B cells, M1 macrophages, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and autoantibodies abnormally increase in the body of RA patients B cell depletion therapy has well proved the important role of B cells in the pathogenesis of RA, and the treatment of RA with B cells as a target has also been paid more and more attention. Although the inflammatory indicators in RA patients receiving B-cell depletion therapy have been significantly improved, the risk of infection and cancer has also increased, which suggests that we need to deplete pathogenic B cells instead of all B cells. However, at present we cannot distinguish between pathogenic B cells and protective B cells in RA patients. In this review, we explore fresh perspectives upon the roles of B cells in the occurrence, development and treatment of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengping Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jinfang Gao
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jie Kang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xuexue Wang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qing Niu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jiaxi Liu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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Hofmann K, Clauder AK, Manz RA. Targeting B Cells and Plasma Cells in Autoimmune Diseases. Front Immunol 2018; 9:835. [PMID: 29740441 PMCID: PMC5924791 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Success with B cell depletion using rituximab has proven the concept that B lineage cells represent a valid target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and has promoted the development of other B cell targeting agents. Present data confirm that B cell depletion is beneficial in various autoimmune disorders and also show that it can worsen the disease course in some patients. These findings suggest that B lineage cells not only produce pathogenic autoantibodies, but also significantly contribute to the regulation of inflammation. In this review, we will discuss the multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory roles of B lineage cells play in autoimmune diseases, in the context of recent findings using B lineage targeting therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hofmann
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Ann-Katrin Clauder
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Rudolf Armin Manz
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
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Uzzan M, Colombel JF, Cerutti A, Treton X, Mehandru S. B Cell-Activating Factor (BAFF)-Targeted B Cell Therapies in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Dig Dis Sci 2016; 61:3407-3424. [PMID: 27655102 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-016-4317-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) involve dysregulated immune responses to gut antigens in genetically predisposed individuals. While a better elucidation of IBD pathophysiology has considerably increased the number of treatment options, the need for more effective therapeutic strategies remains a pressing priority. Defects of both non-hematopoietic (epithelial and stromal) and hematopoietic (lymphoid and myeloid) cells have been described in patients with IBD. Within the lymphoid system, alterations of the T cell compartment are viewed as essential in the pathogenesis of IBD. However, growing evidence points to the additional perturbations of the B cell compartment. Indeed, the intestinal lamina propria from IBD patients shows an increased presence of antibody-secreting plasma cells, which correlates with enhanced pro-inflammatory immunoglobulin G production and changes in the quality of non-inflammatory IgA responses. These B cell abnormalities are compounded by the emergence of systemic antibody responses to various autologous and microbial antigens, which predates the clinical diagnosis of IBD and identifies patients with complicated disease. It is presently unclear whether such antibody responses play a pathogenetic role, as B cell depletion with the CD20-targeting monoclonal antibody rituximab did not ameliorate ulcerative colitis in a clinical trial. However, it must be noted that unresponsiveness to rituximab is also observed also in some patients with autoimmune disorders usually responsive to B cell-depleting therapies. In this review, we discussed mechanistic aspects of B cell-based therapies and their potential role in IBD with a special interest on BAFF and BAFF-targeting therapies buoyed by the success of anti-BAFF treatments in rheumatologic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Uzzan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA. .,The Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Jean-Frederic Colombel
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Susan and Leonard Feinstein IBD Clinical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Cerutti
- The Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Xavier Treton
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beaujon Hospital, APHP, Denis Diderot University, Paris, France
| | - Saurabh Mehandru
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,The Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
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Chen X, Zhao Q, Hou Y, Jiang J, Zhong W, Wang W, Yao X, Li L, Fang J, Zhang F, Hu P. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, short term efficacy and safety of RCT-18, a novel BLyS/APRIL fusion protein, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2016; 82:41-52. [PMID: 26917504 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM RCT-18 is a recombinant fusion protein that interferes with the selection and survival of mature B-lymphocytes by inhibiting B-lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand. METHODS This single blind, randomized, placebo controlled, clinical pharmacological study explored the short term efficacy and safety of RCT-18 in 21 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with three different dosing regimens. The pharmacological behaviour of RCT-18 was also characterized through a six level biomarker cascade approach to identify potential predictors for clinical responses. RESULTS Nine out of 10 patients (>80%) experienced moderate to good EULAR response at the end of 3 months with once or twice weekly doses of 180 mg RCT-18, whereas weekly administration of 360 mg RCT-18 or placebo, however, only resulted in moderate improvement in one patient in each group. Absence of IgM-type rheumatoid factor reduction, recovery of IgM 2 weeks after drug cessation, lack of decrease in the count of CD27(+) B-lymphocytes and a DAS28 change from baseline <6 in 4-6 weeks after the treatment initiation may indicate poor clinical response. No anti-drug antibody of RCT-18 was detected. The active treatments were well tolerated, although more mild to moderate infections were reported in patients receiving RCT-18. CONCLUSION The study results support further development of RCT-18 in RA patients and provide important information for future dose selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Chen
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
| | - Qian Zhao
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
| | - Yong Hou
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
| | - Ji Jiang
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
| | - Wen Zhong
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
| | | | | | - Lin Li
- RC Biotechnologies, Ltd., Yantai
| | - Jianmin Fang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengchun Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
| | - Pei Hu
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing
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Zhang H, Chambers W, Sciascia S, Cuadrado MJ. Emerging therapies in systemic lupus erythematous: from clinical trial to the real life. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2016; 9:681-94. [DOI: 10.1586/17512433.2016.1155446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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B cells biology in systemic lupus erythematosus—from bench to bedside. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2015; 58:1111-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-015-4953-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Isenberg DA, Petri M, Kalunian K, Tanaka Y, Urowitz MB, Hoffman RW, Morgan-Cox M, Iikuni N, Silk M, Wallace DJ. Efficacy and safety of subcutaneous tabalumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: results from ILLUMINATE-1, a 52-week, phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Rheum Dis 2015; 75:323-31. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Morais SA, Vilas-Boas A, Isenberg DA. B-cell survival factors in autoimmune rheumatic disorders. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2015; 7:122-51. [PMID: 26288664 PMCID: PMC4530383 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x15586782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune rheumatic disorders have complex etiopathogenetic mechanisms in which B cells play a central role. The importance of factors stimulating B cells, notably the B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and A proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) axis is now recognized. BAFF and APRIL are cytokines essential for B-cell proliferation and survival from the immature stages to the development of plasma cells. Their levels are increased in some subsets of patients with autoimmune disorders. Several recent biologic drugs have been developed to block this axis, namely belimumab [already licensed for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treatment], tabalumab, atacicept and blisibimod. Many clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these drugs in several autoimmune disorders are ongoing, or have been completed recently. This review updates the information on the use of biologic agents blocking BAFF/APRIL for patients with SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome and myositis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra A Morais
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Andreia Vilas-Boas
- Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - David A Isenberg
- Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, Room 424, 4th Floor Rayne Building, 5 University Street, London WC1E 6JF, UK
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Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease that is marked by a systemic inflammatory reaction and joint erosions. Elevated levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF) have been detected in the serum and synovial fluid of RA patients. Moreover, the levels of BAFF increase in cases of autoimmune disease and are correlated with the level of disease activity. As an innate cytokine mediator, BAFF affects the immune response of the synovial microenvironment. In this review, we consider recent observations of BAFF and its receptors in RA progression, as well as the effects of BAFF on the cell-cell interactions network. We also summarize the clinical development of BAFF antagonists for the treatment of RA.
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Smolen JS, Weinblatt ME, van der Heijde D, Rigby WFC, van Vollenhoven R, Bingham CO, Veenhuizen M, Gill A, Zhao F, Komocsar WJ, Berclaz PY, Ortmann R, Lee C. Efficacy and safety of tabalumab, an anti-B-cell-activating factor monoclonal antibody, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had an inadequate response to methotrexate therapy: results from a phase III multicentre, randomised, double-blind study. Ann Rheum Dis 2015; 74:1567-70. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-207090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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