Burgeoning competition in B cells
The area of B lymphocyte stimulation is becoming increasingly crowded. The latest entry came last week with the publication in Nature of the use of a soluble B lymphocyte stimulating protein receptor to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in mice by researchers at ZymoGenetics Inc. Other companies working with the protein include Human Genome Sciences Inc., Amgen Inc. and Biogen Inc.
The protein is a member of the human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family that specifically acts on B cells to induce their proliferation and antibody secretion. In the Nature article, transgenic mice overexpressing the protein in lymphoid cells developed SLE symptoms. Treatment with a soluble form of one of the protein's receptors, TACI, prolonged survival and inhibited the development of proteinuria. ...