Autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: From immunopathology to therapeutic target

• Published in: Journal of autoimmunity 2022-10, Vol.132, p.102861-102861, Article 102861
• Main Authors: Lou, Hantao, Ling, Guang Sheng, Cao, Xuetao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autoantibody; Autoimmunity; Inflammation; Pathogenesis; SLE
• ISSN: 0896-8411; 1095-9157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102861

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple organ inflammatory damage and wide spectrum of autoantibodies. The autoantibodies, especially anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm autoantibodies are highly specific to SLE, and participate in the immune complex formation and inflammatory damage on multiple end-organs such as kidney, skin, and central nervous system (CNS). However, the underlying mechanisms of autoantibody-induced tissue damage and systemic inflammation are still not fully understood. Single cell analysis of autoreactive B cells and monoclonal antibody screening from patients with active SLE has improved our understanding on the origin of autoreactive B cells and the antigen targets of the pathogenic autoantibodies. B cell depletion therapies have been widely studied in the clinics, but the development of more specific therapies against the pathogenic B cell subset and autoantibodies with improved efficacy and safety still remain a big challenge. A more comprehensive autoantibody profiling combined with functional characterization of autoantibodies in diseases development will shed new insights on the etiology and pathogenesis of SLE and guide a specific treatment to individual SLE patients. •The autoantibody can arise from interplay of multiple mechanisms.•Autoantibodies of SLE is highly heterogenous.•Identification of the pathogenic autoantibodies will improve the specificity of the treatment for SLE.