title: B cell transcription factors: Potential new therapeutic targets for SLE.
abstract: B cells represent a critical arm of the adaptive immune system, and under normal circumstances, provide long lasting immunity to a wide range of pathogens. To achieve this, B cells differentiate into specialized subpopulations, which perform unique functions in response to antigen. A complex network of transcription factors regulates this transition as well as subsequent effector functions. Dysregulation of these transcription factors can lead to altered B cell biology and potentially autoimmunity. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by increased autoantibody production and B cell hyper-reactivity. It still remains unclear, however, what factors contribute to disease pathogenesis. Recent work has suggested dysregulation of B cell transcription factors may play a role in disease onset. Given the prominent role B cells play in the pathogenesis of SLE, it is important to have a full understanding of what transcription factors regulate B cell development, and how dysregulation of some of these transcription factors may contribute to the occurrence and/or pathogenesis of SLE. A comprehensive review of where this field currently stands, what new potential targets have recently been identified, and what functional information is still missing will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School - Cancer Center, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Saurav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De
authors.affiliation: Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School - Cancer Center, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. Electronic address: barnesbe@njms.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Betsy J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Autoimmunity; B cells; SLE; Transcription factors