Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin have discovered a mechanism that can trigger lupus in children. This mechanism disrupts the regulation of a specific immune receptor, causing the immune system to recognize the body’s own genetic material and turn against itself, resulting in systemic inflammation. The researchers identified a lupus patient with a single mutation that disrupts this mechanism. The immune system’s rapid response against pathogens is controlled by the innate immune system, but if the balance is disturbed, the immune system can become hyperactive. The researchers have identified a protein complex called BORC and a protein called UNC93B1 that are involved in this process. Further research is necessary, but targeting this mechanism could lead to new approaches in lupus treatment, potentially preventing inflammation from developing in the first place.
https://www.mpg.de/21374791/lupus-trigger