The role of Ras signaling in lupus T lymphocytes: biology and pathogenesis.
Ras is a GTP-binding protein that plays multiple important roles in cell activation, including proliferative and inflammatory responses. Ras regulation is complex and depends upon post-translational processing, organelle-specific localization and the activation/deactivation of Ras by a number of regulatory molecules. Ras activation in T lymphocytes demonstrates unique features, including its dependence on the T cell receptor and the ability of Ras to signal from both the plasma membrane and the Golgi. Abnormalities of Ras expression, activation and signaling pathways in T lymphocytes appear to play important roles in the development of autoimmunity in general, and systemic lupus erythematosus in particular. In this manuscript, we review the basic biology of Ras in T lymphocytes, and the ways in which T lymphocyte Ras abnormalities may contribute to the development of a lupus phenotype.
Mor
Adam
A
Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, New York University School of Medicine, the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, NY 10003, USA. mora01@med.nyu.edu
Philips
Mark R
MR
Pillinger
Michael H
MH
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras)