Lymphocytes, cytokines, inflammation, and immune trafficking.
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus display heterogeneous immune cell abnormalities that are now being understood in terms of the underlying molecular defects. The fraction of T cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease is characterized in terms of T cell receptor expression, production of inappropriate quantities of lymphokines, and ability to provide help to B cells to produce autoantibodies. The function of antigen-presenting cells is studied in terms of presenting antigens and providing the proper costimulation to T cells. Better understanding of aberrant expression of adhesion molecules may set forward an abnormal tissue response and eventually the expression of clinical disease.
Tsokos
G C
GC
Department of Clinical Investigation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines