Behçet's Disease (BD)
Behçet's disease (BD) imposes significant clinical hurdles because of its widespread organ involvement, absence of clear disease-specific biomarkers, and tendency to relapse frequently. To tackle these diverse management issues, Protheragen allocates advanced platforms and specialized teams dedicated to developing novel therapies. Our end-to-end support services are designed to integrate seamlessly, accelerating each stage from lead discovery to the commercial stage.
Overview of Behçet's Disease (BD)
Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic and often relapsing form of vasculitis that affects blood vessels of every calibre due to immune-mediated inflammation. First identified in 1937 by the Turkish dermatologist Hulusi Behçet, the condition was later classified by the 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference as a variable-vessel vasculitis. BD shows a pronounced geographic distribution, peaking along the historical Silk Road; for instance, in Turkey, the reported incidence ranges from 80 to 420 cases per 100,000. In contrast, the disorder is considered rare in Western populations, where prevalence is less than 1 case per 100,000.
Fig.1 Schematic overview of the pathologic features of Behçet's disease (BD) that lead to vasculitis and thrombosis. (Kim D, et al., 2022)
Pathogenesis of Behçet's Disease (BD)
Behçet's disease (BD) arises when inherited susceptibilities—mainly HLA-B51 and ERAP1 variants—collide with immune dysregulation that tilts toward Th1 and Th17 polarization, elevating IL-17 and IL-23 levels. While these genetic preconditions set the stage, specific microbial exposures may tip the balance. Enhanced neutrophil activation, altered endothelial behavior, and autoantibodies directed against endothelial cells perpetuate the cycle, provoking vasculitis, thrombosis, and tissue damage. This systemic inflammatory cascade explains the disease's hallmark manifestations in the vasculature and mucocutaneous lesions.
Fig.2 The role of innate immune cells in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease (BD). (Tong B, et al., 2019)
Therapeutic Development for Behçet's Disease (BD)
| Drug Names | Mechanism of Action | Targets | Research Phase |
| Prednisone | Synthetic glucocorticoid that suppresses broad inflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokine production | Glucocorticoid receptor | Approved |
| Azathioprine | Purine analog immunosuppressant that inhibits DNA/RNA synthesis in rapidly dividing immune cells (T/B-lymphocytes) | Purine metabolism enzymes (TPMT) | Approved |
| Colchicine | Microtubule inhibitor that blocks neutrophil chemotaxis and inflammasome activation (NLRP3) | Tubulin; NLRP3 inflammasome | Approved |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Our Services
At Protheragen, we dedicate ourselves to preclinical research on Behçet's disease (BD), delivering a full suite of services from biomarker discovery to the creation of therapeutics specifically aimed at the central nervous system. We specialize in disease modeling, utilizing patient-derived iPSCs to generate custom disease in vitro systems. Coupling these with cutting-edge blood-brain barrier (BBB) models, we rigorously assess both drug penetration and neuroprotective activity.
Therapeutic Development Services
By Mechanism of Action
Disease Model Development Services
In Vitro Model Development
- HSV Infection Model
- HLA-B*51 Transgenic Model
- α-tropomyosin Immune Model
- Heat Shock Protein Induced Model
- S Antigen Induced Model
- Other Models
Protheragen is dedicated to delivering full-spectrum preclinical research for Behçet's disease (BD) through cutting-edge disease models. Our suite of services integrates pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK), and safety assessments, providing an all-encompassing framework for drug development in this complex and under-addressed condition. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact usfor more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Kim D, Nakamura K, Kaneko F, et al. Mucocutaneous manifestations of Behçet's disease: Pathogenesis and management from perspectives of vasculitis[J]. Frontiers in medicine, 2022, 9: 987393.
- Tong B, Liu X, Xiao J, et al. Immunopathogenesis of Behcet's disease[J]. Frontiers in immunology, 2019, 10: 665.