Capabilities to modulate inflammation in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis by biologics targeting CD20 molecule on mature B cells are expanding
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is immunopathological neurodegenerative disease in which the key role was up to recently gained to the abnormaly polarized Th1 and Th17 subsets of T cells. The participation of B cell system was for long time almost neglected.
Recently, it has been evidenced both experimentally and clinically that B cells are an integral part of the immunopathogenesis of MS. Biological therapy targeting the molecule CD20 specifically expressed on mature B cells clearly demonstrated that this previous assumption was wrong as an excellent clinical response is achieved by this therapy with favourite safety profile.
Protective components of immunity, such as production of antibodies and renewal of B cells are preserved. Therapy of MS patients with antiCD20 fully human ofatumumab monoclonal antibody administered subcutaneously which approval is on the horizon is the qualitative enrichment of our therapeutical armamentarium.