Remission of proliferative lupus nephritis following B cell depletion therapy is preceded by down‐regulation of the T cell costimulatory molecule CD40 ligand: An open‐label trial

Following B cell depletion, clinical remission of lupus nephritis is associated with a decrease in T helper cell activation, suggesting an additional role for B cells, independent of autoantibody production, in promoting disease. A controlled trial to confirm these promising clinical results is warranted.