Taubmann J, Müller F, Yalcin Mutlu M, Völkl S, Aigner M, Bozec A, Mackensen A, Grieshaber-Bouyer R, Schett G. CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Treatment: Unraveling the Role of B Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Arthritis Rheumatol 2024;
76:497-504. [PMID:
38114423 DOI:
10.1002/art.42784]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
B cell generation of autoantibodies is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). After their differentiation in the bone marrow, B cells populate the secondary lymphatic organs, where they undergo further maturation leading to the development of memory B cells as well as antibody-producing plasmablasts and plasma cells. Targeting B cells is an important strategy to treat autoimmune diseases such as SLE, in which B cell tolerance is disturbed and autoimmune B cells and autoantibodies emerge. This review discusses the functional aspects of antibody- and cell-based B cell-depleting therapy in SLE. It thereby particularly focuses on lessons learned from chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell treatment on the role of B cells in SLE for understanding B cell pathology in SLE. CAR T cells model a deep B cell depletion and thereby allow understanding the role of aberrant B cell activation in the pathogenesis of SLE. Furthermore, the effects of B cell depletion on autoantibody production can be better described, ie, explaining the concept of different cellular sources of (auto-) antibodies in the form of short-lived plasmablasts and long-lived plasma cells, which differ in their susceptibility to B cell depletion and require different targeted therapeutic approaches. Finally, the safety of deep B cell depletion in autoimmune disease is discussed.
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