Researchers identify pathway that jumpstarts the autoimmune response in lupus

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Researchers identify pathway that jumpstarts the autoimmune response in

lupus

21 Jan 2005

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) produce autoantibodies to

their own proteins and DNA and the resultant inflammation can cause kidney

damage, arthritis, and inflammation of the heart and blood vessels.

Luster and colleagues from Harvard Medical School have shown that

large aggregates of antibody-antigen complexes that contain DNA (known as

DNA-containing immune complexes), isolated from the serum of lupus patients

stimulate dendritic cells - cells that identify foreign invaders and

jumpstart the immune response.

This series of events is dependent on the molecule known as Toll-like

receptor 9 (TLR9). Interestingly, serum or immune complexes isolated from

patients with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases did not have this effect.

The authors found that this stimulation requires the presence of DNA as well

as what is known as the Fc part of immunoglobulin G, and that stimulation of

dendritic cells in this manner caused the production of many proinflammatory

factors that likely contribute to the development of SLE.

The study will appear online on January 20 in advance of print publication

in the February 1 edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=19097