| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rheumatology 2002; 41: 242-245
© 2002 British Society for Rheumatology
Editorials |
Systemic lupus erythematosus and dysregulated apoptosis—what is the evidence?
Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RL, UK
The recent surge of interest in apoptosis is not without reason, least of all for those involved in the care of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although it has long been suspected that a problem in the waste-disposal mechanism of the body may account for phenomena such as the LE cell and haematoxylin bodies associated with SLE, insights into the tightly controlled process of apoptosis have provided a more unified understanding of how the protean manifestations of lupus may occur. Animal models of lupus have been linked directly to genetic abnormalities in apoptosis genes, apoptotic cells provide the fuel for unwanted and potentially pathogenic autoimmune responses, and defects in specific clearance of apoptotic debris suggest a rationale for current and future approaches to treatment.
Apoptosis is a genetically controlled sequence of events that culminates in the death and efficient disposal of a cell. Characteristic features include condensation of chromatin,
References
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. Noursadeghi, N. Aqel, P. Gibson, and G. Pasvol Successful treatment of severe Kikuchi's disease with intravenous immunoglobulin Rheumatology, February 1, 2006; 45(2): 235 - 237. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Caricchio, L. McPhie, and P. L. Cohen Ultraviolet B Radiation-Induced Cell Death: Critical Role of Ultraviolet Dose in Inflammation and Lupus Autoantigen Redistribution J. Immunol., December 1, 2003; 171(11): 5778 - 5786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|