Fig. 1.

Treatment strategies affecting B cells in SLE. The diagram shows the molecules (in white fields) involved in B cell stimulation and interaction with other cell types (dendritic cells, T cells). These molecules are therapeutic targets in SLE; blocking their activity may help to normalize B cell activity in SLE. The shaded boxes show the biological drugs currently available that affect the activity of B cells, T cells, and APCs. Biological drugs marked in red are approved for treating patients with SLE or are used off-label (RTX). APC antigen-presenting cell, BAFF (BlyS) B lymphocytes stimulator, APRIL ligand-inducing B cell proliferation, TACI transmembrane activator-1 and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand-interactor, BCMA B cell maturation antigen, RTX rituximab