Role of belimumab in systemic lupus erythomatosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any organ in the body. There is no safe and reliable therapy for most serious autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythomatosus. Severe cases require treatment with corticosteroids or cytotoxic drugs or both, which frequently provide inadequate disease control and can cause serious complications. These therapies are not restricted in their effects on cells of the immune system, but rather have a broad range of toxic effects on cells throughout the body. Recent advances in biotechnology have improved significantly on the conventional antiserum of the past. It is now possible to produce virtually unlimited quantities of specific homogeneous antibodies called monoclonal antibodies. Belimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes and inhibits the biological activity of B-Lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), also known as B cell activation factor of the TNF family (BAFF). These antibodies have added immeasurably to our ability to identify and selectively bind distinct cells of the immune system. As a result, monoclonal antibodies can be used to manipulate the immune system in ways that were not previously possible. This achievement has led to the development of several new strategies for the treatment of autoimmune disease, which have already been effective in experimental animals with autoimmune disease, This review focused on the advantages of belimumab over the conventional drug treatment in systemic lupus erythomatus which has been proven more effective in reduction of flares, rhumatid arthritis, lupus. Key words: B-lymphocyte, BLYs, benlysta, autoimmune disease.