Special Issue "Monoclonal Antibody"

Guest Editor
Dr. Jagadeesh Bayry
Scientist CR2-INSERM, INSERM UMRS 872, Equipe 16 "Immunopathology and Therapeutic Immunointervention", Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers 15, Rue de l'Ecole de Médecine, 75006 Paris, France
Website: http://www.crcjussieu.fr/crc/
E-Mail: jagadeesh.bayry@crc.jussieu.fr
Phone: +33 1 55 42 82 66
Fax: +33 1 55 42 82 62
Interests: immunology; autoimmunity; host-pathogen interaction; therapy

Submission

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 500 CHF (Swiss Francs). English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.

• design and engineering antibody
• therapy
• autoimmune diseases
• cancer
• B cells
• T cells
• cytokines
• co-stimulatory molecules
• preclinical evaluation
• experimental models
• immunogenecity
• transplantation
• dermatology
• infectious diseases

Manuscript ID: Pharmaceuticals-monoanti-20090831-Ramos-es
Type of Paper: Review
Title: B-cell targeted therapies in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome
Author: Manel Ramos; E-mail: mramos@clinic.ub.es
Abstract: Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the exocrine glands and usually presents as persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes. Recent studies have analysed new therapeutic approaches, focusing mainly on the use of biological agents. B-cell targeted therapies seem to be the most promising agents in primary SS, especially rituximab which has been used in more than 150 reported cases. Other promising B-cell targeted therapies include epratuzumab and belimumab. The use of biological agents targeting molecules and receptors involved in the etiopathogenesis of primary SS opens a new era in the therapeutic management of patients with primary SS.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Leukemia, Current Situation and Future Direction
Authors: Ali Al-Ameri and Alessandra Ferrajoli
Affiliation: Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D., Anderson Cancer Center, USA; E-Mail: aalameri@mdanderson.org, aferrajo@mdanderson.org
Abstract: to be added

Manuscript ID: Pharmaceuticals-monoanti-20091022-Akhtari-us
Type of Paper: Review
Title: Rituximab and Treatment of Autoimmune Neutropenias
Authors: Mojtaba Akhtari, Sohrab M. Hossain and Edmund K. Waller
Affiliation: Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365-C Clifton Rd, N.E., 5th Floor, Suite C5010, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; E-Mail: makhtar@emory.edu
Abstract: Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody primarily used for treating B cell malignancies. There has also been a growing interest in its use in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases including hematological disorders such as autoimmune cytopenias. Rituximab is an important alternative for the conventional therapy of some autoimmune cytopenias and there are reports of significant efficacy of selective B-cell depletion in the treatment of refractory or relapsed autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura after conventional immunosuppressive therapies. However, the existing data on rituximab for the treatment of autoimmune neutropenias are not promising. Recent experiences with the use of rituximab in the treatment of autoimmune neutropenia are the subject of this review.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Implications of the T cell Activation Paradoxon for the Therapeutic Use of CD25 Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Günther H.S. Richter and Stefan Burdach
Affiliation: Laboratory for Functional Genomics and Transplantation Biology, Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Cancer Research Center, Technische Universität München, 81664 Munich, Germany; E-Mail: guenther.richter@lrz.tum.de
Abstract: CD25 monoclonal antibody (CD25 mAb) binding to the α-chain of the Interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor, blocks high affinity IL-2 binding, thereby not only interfering with the immunostimulatory activity of IL-2 but also with immuno-regulatory processes. Similarly, CD25 antibodies also prevent activation induced cell death (AICD) of T cells. Patients with a mutation dependent CD25 deficiency very early suffer from repeated infections as well as both dramatic lymphocytic infiltrations of peripheral tissue and autoimmune phenomena. T cell apoptosis in thymus is drastically reduced leading to an expansion of autoreactive T cells in different organs. IL-2^-/- und IL-2Rα^-/- knock out mice develop a massive enlargement of peripheral lymphoid tissue together with a polyclonal T- and B-cell expansion. They develop an autoimmune disease including haemolytic anemia and inflammatory bowel disease. In defiance of these results, different formulations of CD25 antibodies gained significance in transplantation medicine and the treatment of autoimmune disease. However, an increasing number of reports revealed variable or even adversal effects of anti-CD25 mAb therapy: Blockade of the IL-2 pathway by anti-CD25 mAb hindered the apoptotic death of graftinfiltrating cells in cardiac allograft recipients or revealed detrimental effects on Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD). Therefore, designing therapeutic CD25 antibody applications multilayer functionality of IL-2 and potential downstream targets of CD25 blockade have to be considered. Recent results contributing to our understanding suggesting a more wise application of this antibody will be reviewed.