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Genes and Genetic Pathways that Supress Lupus

Edward K. Wakeland, PhD - University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas, Texas

Summary: Dr. Wakeland will use a new breed of lupus-prone mice to identify a gene, called Sles1, that suppresses the development of systemic autoimmunity and fatal lupus nephritis (kidney disease). The Sles1 gene does not affect normal immune functions, but specifically suppresses the development of autoimmune responses similar to those that occur in people with SLE. Dr. Wakeland and his colleagues have already localized the Sles1 gene to a very small region of the genome and will now use a variety of genetic strategies to specifically identify its exact location. They will then pinpoint the particular molecular pathways and immune mechanisms that the gene causes to suppress fatal lupus in mice.

What this study means for people with lupus: Identifying the Sles1 gene in mice and finding the molecular and cellular processes that it influences should provide new targets for lupus therapies and may lead to the development of drugs that can suppress the disease without impairing the immune system’s normal functions.