title: Linking susceptibility genes and pathogenesis mechanisms using mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) represents a challenging autoimmune disease from a clinical perspective because of its varied forms of presentation. Although broad-spectrum steroids remain the standard treatment for SLE, they have many side effects and only provide temporary relief from the symptoms of the disease. Thus, gaining a deeper understanding of the genetic traits and biological pathways that confer susceptibility to SLE will help in the design of more targeted and effective therapeutics. Both human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and investigations using a variety of mouse models of SLE have been valuable for the identification of the genes and pathways involved in pathogenesis. In this Review, we link human susceptibility genes for SLE with biological pathways characterized in mouse models of lupus, and discuss how the mechanistic insights gained could advance drug discovery for the disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Steve P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Crampton
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Morawski
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA sbolland@niaid.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
keywords: Human genetics; Lupus; Mouse models; SLE; Susceptibility genes