B lymphocytes play critical roles in the development of autoimmunity, acting as autoantibody manufacturers, antigen-presenting cells, and producers of cytokines. Pan-B cell depletion has demonstrated efficacy in treatment of many autoimmune disorders, but carries with it an unfavorable safety profile due to global immune suppression. Hence, attention has turned to the potential of autoantigen-specific B cell targeted therapies, which would deplete or silence pathogenic self-antigen-reactive cells while sparing B cells needed for immune defense. Here, we discuss the antigen-specific B cell-targeted approaches that are under development or are under consideration, that could be employed to allow for more precise therapy in the treatment of autoimmunity. Lastly, we discuss some of the challenges associated with antigen-specific B cell targeting that may impact their clinical applicability.
Keywords: B cells; B lymphocytes; anergy; antigen-specific therapies; autoimmunity; self-antigen; tolerance.