title: SLE-associated risk factors affect DC function.
abstract: Numerous risk alleles for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have now been identified. Analysis of the expression of genes with risk alleles in cells of hematopoietic origin demonstrates them to be most abundantly expressed in B cells and dendritic cells (DCs), suggesting that these cell types may be the drivers of the inflammatory changes seen in SLE. DCs are of particular interest as they act to connect the innate and the adaptive immune response. Thus, DCs can transform inflammation into autoimmunity, and autoantibodies are the hallmark of SLE. In this review, we focus on mechanisms of tolerance that maintain DCs in a non-activated, non-immunogenic state. We demonstrate, using examples from our own studies, how alterations in DC function stemming from either DC-intrinsic abnormalities or DC-extrinsic regulators of function can predispose to autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Myoungsun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sun Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000483:Alleles; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies
keywords: dendritic cells; immune tolerance; risk alleles; systemic lupus