The Role of Cutaneous B-Cells in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: From Preclinical Evidence to Novel Targeted Therapies

Abstract

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic autoinflammatory skin disease of the terminal hair follicle, whose pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial. Alongside a predisposing genetic background, environmental/epigenetic factors, alterations in the skin microbiome, and dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses contribute to the persistent inflammatory network. Despite advancing knowledge, the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying HS have yet to be untangled. Moreover, the lack of experimental disease models that closely mimic disease phenotypes or pathophysiological processes has hindered the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in immunology highlighted the important role of B cells in HS pathogenesis, not only in the chronic but also in the early stages of the disease, implying great potential for the development of novel therapeutic targets. This study gathers the preclinical and clinical scientific evidence that supports the role of cutaneous B-cells in HS pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of their targeting.