The Role of B Cells and B Cell Therapies in Immune-Mediated Liver Diseases

Journal article

B cells form a branch of the adaptive immune system, essential for the body’s immune defense against pathogens. B cell dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune mediated liver diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, IgG4-related hepatobiliary disease, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. B cells may initiate and maintain immune related liver diseases in several ways including the production of autoantibodies and the activation of T cells via antigen presentation or cytokine production. Here we comprehensively review current knowledge on B cell mechanisms in immune mediated liver diseases, exploring disease pathogenesis, B cell therapies, and novel treatment targets. We identify key areas where future research should focus to enable the development of targeted B cell therapies.

Authors: Cargill, T; Culver, EL

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
• Volume: 12
• Pages: 661196-661196
• Article number: 661196
• Publication date: 2021-04-14
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661196
• EISSN: 1664-3224
• ISSN: 1664-3224
• Language: English
• Keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis; Pathogenesis; Antibody; Pathology; Medicine; Liver disease; Autoantibody; Disease; Immune system; Internal medicine; Autoimmune hepatitis; Antigen presentation; Primary sclerosing cholangitis; Immunology; B cell; T cell