Scientists have taken a high-resolution photo of a protein complex, called BRISC-SHMT2, that promotes inflammation and is thought to be at the root of lupus symptoms. This factor may represent a new therapeutic target to tackle the disease, and the new findings may help researchers find therapies that disrupt…
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…
Gazyva (obinutuzumab) in combination with standard-of-care agents significantly increases the percentage of patients with proliferative lupus nephritis achieving complete or partial renal response, top-line data from a Phase 2 trial show. Gazyva is a monoclonal antibody that has been designed to bind CD20,…
KZR-616, a selective immunoproteasome inhibitor, is safe, well-tolerated, and effectively reduces disease activity in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), preliminary Phase 1b data show. The findings were presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2019 Annual Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in a poster titled, “…
These days, more than ever, we need community. As a culture, we are experiencing higher levels of stress, greater incidence of isolation, and an increase in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and others. Slowly, we are starting…
Only a select few are invited to ring the Nasdaq stock exchange bell. The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) was among them, taking part in closing ceremonies earlier this month. The foundation’s goal in those June 7 ceremonies was to raise awareness of the unpredictable and often-misunderstood disease and…
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 …
In studying how mycophenolate mofetil treatment affects immune cells and blood markers in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), researchers uncovered an immune pathway that may explain why is lupus suppressed by this medication. Their findings might…
Platelet-bound C4d (PC4d), one of Exagen‘s patented biomarkers, may be used along with other available biomarkers to estimate the risk of thrombosis — the formation of blood clots — among people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study shows. The study, “Platelet-bound C4d, low C3…