In terms of kidney health, cyclosporine is a more effective long-term maintenance therapy for people with lupus nephritis than either mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine, new data suggest. Largely, the researchers drew this conclusion because patients using it — even in the presence of high urine protein levels —…
The idea that the female immune system adapts to accommodate pregnancy could explain why biological females are more likely than males to develop lupus and other autoimmune diseases, a study suggests. The study, titled “The Pregnancy Pickle: Evolved Immune Compensation Due to Pregnancy Underlies Sex Differences in…
Treatment with ustekinumab leads to significant reductions in severe flares in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active disease, 1-year data from a Phase 2 trial shows. Biomarker analyses of the same data also provided clues about how ustekinumab works in SLE. The data were presented at the…
Certain rare gene mutations, previously ignored, appear to contribute substantially to the development of lupus, new research found, pointing to the potential for targeted therapies for the condition. The study, “Functional rare and low frequency variants in BLK and BANK1 contribute to human lupus,” was published in …
Researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which cells that are infected can signal their neighbors that something is wrong. Understanding how this alarm signal works might lead to new strategies for shutting down harmful immune reactions in diseases like lupus. The study, “Intracellular bacteria engage…
An abnormal mix of bacteria in the gut, particularly increases in the bacteria Ruminococcus gnavus, may play a critical role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study shows. The study, “Lupus nephritis is linked to disease-activity associated expansions and immunity to a gut commensal,” was published in …
A new study has identified a critical regulator of immunity, called microRNA-142, which could have significant implications for understanding or even treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. The study, “microRNA-142-mediated repression of phosphodiesterase 3B critically regulates peripheral immune tolerance,” was published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The…
A new proof-of-concept study supports the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), showing that transplanting MSCs can control the disease in patients from different ethnicities. The study, “Therapeutic potential of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells transplantation for lupus nephritis,” was published in …
Abnormalities in the skeletal muscle are not a major contributor to the fatigue experienced by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, a study based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggests, contradicting prior beliefs. The study, “Metabolic and structural skeletal muscle health in systemic lupus erythematosus related fatigue:…
Stress, depression, and pain — but not disease activity, sleep, or physical health —  appear to be major contributors to fatigue among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a new study reports. The findings support that screening and treatment of these measures are included in the usual care of SLE patients, particularly…