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Anti-Sm B cell tolerance and tolerance loss in systemic lupus erythematosus

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Abstract

Autoimmunity is a serious health problem and understanding the maintenance and loss of tolerance to self-antigens are key issues in developing new therapeutic strategies to treat these diseases. Despite considerable progress toward understanding B cell tolerance and tolerance loss, much remains unknown, particularly regarding B cells specific for antigens targeted in disease. Our interest in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies to numerous nuclear antigens, is focused on understanding B cell tolerance and tolerance loss to the SLE-specific autoantigen Sm in mice and humans. Our work aims to provide the cellular and molecular underpinnings for the development of rational therapies to target autoreactive B cells in human SLE.

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Acknowledgements

I am indebted to all of the past and present members of my laboratory for their dedication and perseverance that has made this progress possible. I am also indebted to Dr. Barbara Vilen and the members of her laboratory for their advice and many helpful discussions. NIAID, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Lupus Foundation of America have funded this work.

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  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Stephen H. Clarke

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Clarke, S.H. Anti-Sm B cell tolerance and tolerance loss in systemic lupus erythematosus. Immunol Res 41, 203–216 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-008-8023-3

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