Introduction B cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including the unique capacity of plasma cells as ultimately differentiated autoreactive B cells to produce autoantibodies. These antibodies reacting against self-antigens participate in the induction…
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop a chronic autoimmune response against ubiquitous, mostly intranuclear, self-antigens. This response, manifested by the presence of autoantibodies, represents the source of immune complexes and activated T cells that eventually gain access to target…
Introduction General comments The complement system is a double-edged sword in lupus ( Fig. 14.1 ). On the one hand, in its absence, a systemic autoimmune disease develops. Thus a complete deficiency of C1q, C1r, C1s, C4, or C2, all early…
Sex hormones Nine out of ten patients afflicted with SLE are women, indicating that the female gender is an important factor in disease development. A skewed X chromosome-inactivation pattern, sex hormone defects, and reproductive history are factors that contribute to…
Introduction The genetic origins of lupus, as reviewed in chapter, Genes and Genetics in Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, are extraordinarily complex. Variants in several dozen immune pathway genes are known to contribute to the pathophysiology of SLE. These variants are…
Introduction Many technological advances in the past two decades have led to an explosion of genome wide association studies (GWAS) and subsequent meta-analyses identifying close to 150 novel SLE risk loci across multiple ancestries and in some cases spanning multiple…
Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by myriad of clinical manifestations, degrees of severity, and alternating phases of remission and flares, that may be defined as a syndrome rather than a single autoimmune disease. The pathogenesis…
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been labeled “the cruel mystery” by the Lupus Foundation of America. This definition summarizes both the pain and suffering inflicted by the disease and its complex, intricated etiopathogenesis. A key characteristic of SLE is the…
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Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a progressive disease necessitating long-term medical care for the prevention or delay of detrimental outcomes. While most medical models often have an individual focus, diagnosing each patient’s symptoms and recommending treatment regimens, the reality…