Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting all organ systems. The disease preferentially affects females of childbearing age. It runs a variable course. It may run a mild course that may never lead to severe disease and manifestations from critical organ systems. H...

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Main Authors: Panagiotis Athanassiou, Lambros Athanassiou, Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou, Yehuda Shoenfeld
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/3/210
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author Panagiotis Athanassiou
Lambros Athanassiou
Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou
Yehuda Shoenfeld
author_facet Panagiotis Athanassiou
Lambros Athanassiou
Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou
Yehuda Shoenfeld
author_sort Panagiotis Athanassiou
collection DOAJ
description Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting all organ systems. The disease preferentially affects females of childbearing age. It runs a variable course. It may run a mild course that may never lead to severe disease and manifestations from critical organ systems. However, it may also run an undulating course with periods of mild and severe disease. It may run as a mild disease, quickly deteriorating to severe disease and affecting multiple organ systems. Various immune pathways related both to the innate and adaptive immune response are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. Various drugs have been developed targeting cellular and molecular targets in these pathways. Interferons are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, and various drugs have been developed to target this pathway. T and B lymphocytes are involved in the pathophysiology of SLE. Various treatment modalities targeting cellular targets are available for the treatment of SLE. These include biologic agents targeting B lymphocytes. However, some patients have disease refractory to these treatment modalities. For these patients, cell-based therapies may be used. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation involving autologous cells is an option in the treatment of refractory SLE. Mesenchymal stem cells are also applied in the treatment of SLE. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a novel treatment also used in SLE management. This novel treatment method holds major promise for the management of autoimmune diseases and, in particular, SLE. Major hurdles to be overcome are the logistics involved, as well as the need for specialized facilities. This review focuses on novel treatment modalities in SLE targeting cellular and molecular targets in the immune system.
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spelling doaj-art-7e6e6647d429435593e20984b57f26a02025-08-20T02:12:41ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-01-0114321010.3390/cells14030210Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus ErythematosusPanagiotis Athanassiou0Lambros Athanassiou1Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou2Yehuda Shoenfeld3Department of Rheumatology, St. Paul’s Hospital, 55134 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Rheumatology, Asclepeion Hospital, Voula, 16673 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Endocrinology, Asclepeion Hospital, Voula, 16673 Athens, GreeceZabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Reichman University, Herzliya 4610101, IsraelSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting all organ systems. The disease preferentially affects females of childbearing age. It runs a variable course. It may run a mild course that may never lead to severe disease and manifestations from critical organ systems. However, it may also run an undulating course with periods of mild and severe disease. It may run as a mild disease, quickly deteriorating to severe disease and affecting multiple organ systems. Various immune pathways related both to the innate and adaptive immune response are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. Various drugs have been developed targeting cellular and molecular targets in these pathways. Interferons are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, and various drugs have been developed to target this pathway. T and B lymphocytes are involved in the pathophysiology of SLE. Various treatment modalities targeting cellular targets are available for the treatment of SLE. These include biologic agents targeting B lymphocytes. However, some patients have disease refractory to these treatment modalities. For these patients, cell-based therapies may be used. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation involving autologous cells is an option in the treatment of refractory SLE. Mesenchymal stem cells are also applied in the treatment of SLE. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a novel treatment also used in SLE management. This novel treatment method holds major promise for the management of autoimmune diseases and, in particular, SLE. Major hurdles to be overcome are the logistics involved, as well as the need for specialized facilities. This review focuses on novel treatment modalities in SLE targeting cellular and molecular targets in the immune system.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/3/210systemic lupus erythematosusB lymphocytestem cell transplantationmesenchymal cell transplantationCAR T cell therapy
spellingShingle Panagiotis Athanassiou
Lambros Athanassiou
Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou
Yehuda Shoenfeld
Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Cells
systemic lupus erythematosus
B lymphocyte
stem cell transplantation
mesenchymal cell transplantation
CAR T cell therapy
title Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
title_full Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
title_fullStr Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
title_full_unstemmed Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
title_short Targeted Cellular Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
title_sort targeted cellular treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus
topic systemic lupus erythematosus
B lymphocyte
stem cell transplantation
mesenchymal cell transplantation
CAR T cell therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/3/210
work_keys_str_mv AT panagiotisathanassiou targetedcellulartreatmentofsystemiclupuserythematosus
AT lambrosathanassiou targetedcellulartreatmentofsystemiclupuserythematosus
AT ifigeniakostoglouathanassiou targetedcellulartreatmentofsystemiclupuserythematosus
AT yehudashoenfeld targetedcellulartreatmentofsystemiclupuserythematosus