Development of biologicals for the therapy of lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease with largely unknown etiopathogenesis and no known cure. However, key steps in its pathophysiology have been recognized and targeted by specific therapeutic techniques. Human patients and murine models of lupus erythematosus manifest a wide range of immunological abnormalities. Therapeutic antibodies, which affect the activation of potentially autoreactive B cells, have been developed and are being tested in clinical trials. Preclinical studies have provided proof of concept for the feasibility and efficacy of gene therapy in human lupus erythematosus. In this article, we briefly review the clinical characteristics and immunological abnormalities of lupus erythematosus and summarize recent studies on the use of therapeutic antibodies and gene therapy for the management of human lupus erythematosus.

Keywords::

• antibody therapy
• DNA immunization
• DNA vaccination
• gene therapy
• lupus
• lupus erythematosus
• systemic lupus erythematosus

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Miriam Wittmann for critical comments on the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.