War and peace: Factor VIII and the adaptive immune response

Abstract

The development of neutralizing anti-factor VIII (FVIII) antibodies (inhibitors) remains a major challenge for FVIII replacement therapy in hemophilia A patients. The adaptive immune response plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of inhibitors. In this review, we focus on our current understanding of FVIII interactions with cells of the adaptive immune system and the phenotype of the resultant response. Additionally, we examine both current and novel FVIII tolerance induction methods that function at the level of the adaptive immune response.

Keywords: Adaptive immune response; B cells; Factor VIII; Hemophilia A; Inhibitors; Plasma cells.