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Do self‐perpetuating B lymphocytes drive human autoimmune disease?
Author(s) -
J. C. W. Edwards,
G Cambridge,
Vikki M. Abrahams
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.1999.00772.x
Subject(s) - immunology , autoantibody , autoimmunity , rheumatoid arthritis , disease , lymphocyte , medicine , autoimmune disease , biology , antibody , pathology
Normal immunological memory is thought to be underpinned by T lymphocytes. However, in rheumatoid arthritis there are indications that T‐lymphocyte control has been subverted by self‐perpetuating B lymphocytes. Potential mechanisms in other autoimmune states are less clear, but a number of observations suggest that misappropriation of immunological memory by B lymphocytes may be a common feature of human autoantibody‐associated disease. Put simply, autoantibodies drive their own production. If so, the availability of safe B‐lymphocyte‐depleting agents provides a potential means for reversal of autoimmunity.