SLE—It’s in the Genes

The group of susceptibility loci also included five genes that had previously been shown to be associated with SLE in Chinese patients. The current study represents the first time, however, that the genes have been mapped in European SLE. The group of SLE susceptibility loci also included a large number (n=16) of transcription factors. All told, the team found aberrantly regulated gene expression networks appear to be behind the development of SLE. The networks encompass multiple cell types in both the innate and adaptive immune system.

Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.

References

1. Bentham J, Morris DL, Cunninghame Graham DS, et al. Genetic association analyses implicate aberrant regulation of innate and adaptive immunity genes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Genet. 2015 Oct 26. doi: 10.1038/ng.3434. [Epub ahead of print]