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Basophils and Autoreactive IgE in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous disease that can affect multiple organs. A hallmark of this disease, as is the case for other autoimmune diseases, is the presence of large numbers of autoantibodies. As such, SLE is considered to be a B-cell disease perpetuated by the expansion of autoreactive T and B cells. The T cells involved have long been considered to be T-helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells, as these potent proinflammatory cells can be found in the tissues of SLE patients. Recent advances point to a role for the Th2 environment in contributing to SLE through promotion of autoantibody production. Here we describe the recent work focusing on autoreactive IgE and the activation of basophils as promoting the production of autoantibodies in SLE. The findings, both in a murine model of SLE and in humans with SLE, support the concept that the activation of the basophil by autoreactive IgE-containing immune complexes serves to amplify the production of autoantibodies and contributes to the pathogenesis of disease. We propose that therapeutic targeting of this amplification loop by reducing the levels of circulating autoreactive IgE may have benefit in SLE.

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Acknowledgment

The research of Dr. Rivera, reported herein, was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

Disclosure

Dr. Charles is routinely reimbursed for travel expenses incurred by multiple entities for which he serves as a guest speaker.

Dr. Rivera is a member of the Keystone Symposia Scientific Advisory Board (he receives no compensation) and is routinely reimbursed for travel expenses incurred by multiple entities for which he serves as a guest speaker.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) UMR699 - Université Paris Diderot, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, 16 rue Henri Huchard, 75870, Paris, Cedex 18, France

    Nicolas Charles

  2. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 9S205, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1820, USA

    Juan Rivera

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  1. Nicolas Charles
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Correspondence to Juan Rivera.

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Charles, N., Rivera, J. Basophils and Autoreactive IgE in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 11, 378–387 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-011-0216-5

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