B细胞活化因子与系统性红斑狼疮

B细胞活化因子(BAFF)是近年来发现的对B细胞生存分化具有重要作用的因子,通过结合于三种不同受体发挥促B细胞分化成熟、类别转换、促进体液免疫应答及参与T细胞活化等功能。BAFF过表达时可在小鼠模型引发严重的自身免疫疾病,使用BAFF拮抗剂可使动物模型的自身免疫病得到一定程度的缓解。部分系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者中BAFF的水平有不同程度增高,并与抗dsDNA抗体滴度相关。抗BAFF单克隆抗体治疗SLE临床研究初步结果显示安全性好,疾病活动度下降。BAFF拮抗剂有望成为有效的治疗SLE的新型药物。

BAFF and system lupus erythematosus

BAFF is an essential ligand essential for survival and differentiation of peripheral B cells. By interacting with three receptors, BAFF can promote B cell maturation and class switching, enhance humoral immunity and T cell co-stimulation. Over-expression of BAFF leads to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in mouse model. Treating the mice model with BAFF antagonists can slow-down disease progression and enhance survival rate. Moreover, in some SLE patients serum level of BAFF is elevated and correlated with serum anti-dsDNA titer. The preliminary clinical trial of anti-BAFF monoclonal antibody has shown to be safe and effective. BAFF antagonists are promising therapeutic drugs for SLE.