To Participate or Not?

My doctor gave me something to think about. He opened a topic about this BLyS and BAFF and explained it to me. Currently, they are doing a clinical trial about this BLys-BAFF and their subjects are lupus patients. He asked me to do research first before deciding. He also asked for my Mom’s consent. If ever I’ll pass the screening, the treatment process will be every two weeks and drug will be administered via subcutaneous route. 

WHAT IS BLyS or BAFF?

BLyS or BAFF in Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases

B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), or B cell activating factor (BAFF), has been associated with a wide range of B-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, including lupus, lupus nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Sjögren’s Syndrome, Graves’ Disease and others. BLyS, or BAFF, is a critical survival factor for B cells, and is required for B cell development and maintenance. Its involvement in B cell survival has been demonstrated in animal studies (Kalled 2005) and in human (Avery 2003) in vitro studies. BAFF is primarily expressed by macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells; BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) is expressed primarily on peripheral B cells. BAFF is specifically up-regulated in human and animal models of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis (Gross 2000; Cheema 2001; Zhang 2001; Groom 2002; Kawasaki 2002). These finding suggests that high levels of BAFF may cause excessive survival signals to auto-reactive B cells, possibly as they pass through a critical tolerance checkpoint while maturing in the spleen. Inhibition of BAFF is expected to block stages of B cell maturation, and subsequent antibody formation. Through this pathway, a BAFF antagonist could potentially modulate a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

Although the cause of lupus is still not completely understood, B-cell activation and auto-antibody production are known to be central to the process. Evidence has emerged that over-expression of BLyS plays an important role in this disease process. In preclinical studies, transgenic mice created to over-express BLyS begin to exhibit symptoms similar to lupus. In addition, treatment of these same mice with BLyS antagonists appears to ameliorate the disease.

Source: http://anthera.com/science_blys_baff.asp