Open AccessB cell block: is rituximab a new possible treatment for systemic sclerosis?
Author(s) -
Leask Andrew
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of cell communication and signaling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1873-961X
pISSN - 1873-9601
DOI - 10.1007/s12079-010-0107-x
Subject(s) - rituximab , medicine , cd20 , immunology , antibody , immune system , autoimmune disease , proinflammatory cytokine , disease , inflammation
There is no treatment for fibrotic diseases, including the autoimmune disease systemic sclerosis (sclerderma, SSc). Although broad spectrum immune suppressants have little to no effect on the fibrosis in SSc, agents targeting specific proinflammatory agents are currently being considered as possible therapeutic approaches to combating SSc. B cells are lymphocytes that proliferate and secrete antibody molecules which drive the autoimmune response. CD20 is a B cell marker; the agent rituximab is an antibody against CD20. In a recent report by Bosello and colleagues (Arthritis Res. Ther. 12(2): R54, 2010), rituximab was tolerated in SSc patients and appeared to result in an improvement of the skin score and of clinical symptoms of SSc. This report is one of a series of recent studies suggesting that rituximab may be a possible treatment for SSc. This commentary summarizes these observations.