Lupus: Open Access
Open Access

Department of Microbiology - Immunology, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA

Publications

• Mini Review   
  Potential Viral Model for SLE: Accelerated Polyclonal Autoantibody Production Following Theiler
  Author(s): Byung S. Kim*
  
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is caused by the production of antibodies against self-antigens. The onset and/or progression of SLE appears to be associated with various viral infections. However, the underlying mechanisms of the association are not well understood due to the lack of suitable infectious experimental models. Recently, we demonstrated that a wide range of B cells are permissive to Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), and TMEV-infected B cells are activated to up regulate co-stimulatory molecules for T cell stimulation. The initial activation of B cells requires the production of IFN-α/β.Subsequently produced IFN-α/β, IL-6, and IL-1 facilitate further B cell activation for antibody production and skewed development of Th17 type response. When SLE-prone BXSB and NZBWF1 mice were infected with TMEV and Coxsackie virus, the produc.. View More»
  

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