Indications of Rituximab in autoimmune diseases

B cell targeted therapies are becoming widespread for the treatment of multiple autoimmune diseases including conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and Type ! diabetes typically considered as T cell mediated. This interest stems from the convergence of tremendous progress in understanding the multiple effector and regulatory roles played by B cells in regulating autoimmunity as well as in the promising results reported for B cell depletion in an ever expanding number of autoimmune diseases. This review will review current knowledge of Rituximab-induced B cell depletion in diseases where this therapy is either well established or represents a promising therapeutic avenue with potential to uncover important disease mechanisms.

Section editors:Michel Goldman – Innovative Medicines Initiative, COV2, Brussels, BelgiumLucienne Chatenoud – Inserm U1013, Paris, France