Development of biologicals for the therapy of lupus erythematosus

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.