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Review
. 2010:2010:365083.
doi: 10.1155/2010/365083. Epub 2010 May 6.

Cytokines and their roles in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus: from basics to recent advances

Desmond Yat Hin Yap  1 , Kar Neng Lai
Affiliations
Review

Cytokines and their roles in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus: from basics to recent advances

Desmond Yat Hin Yap et al. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010.

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex auto-immune disorder which involves various facets of the immune system. In addition to autoantibody production and immune complex deposition, emerging evidences suggest that cytokines may act as key players in the immunopathogenesis of SLE. These cytokines assume a critical role in the differentiation, maturation and activation of cells and also participate in the local inflammatory processes that mediate tissue insults in SLE. Certain cytokines such as the IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, BLys, type I interferons (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are closely linked to pathogenesis of SLE. The delineation of the role played by these cytokines not only fosters our understanding of this disease but also provides a sound rationale for various therapeutic approaches. In this context, this review focuses on selected cytokines which exert significant effect in the pathogenesis of SLE and their possible clinical applications.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram to show the complex interaction between various immune cells and cytokines which lead to the pathogenesis of SLE.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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