Nature Genetics
25, 135 - 136 (2000)
doi:10.1038/75963
Lupus, DNase and defective disposal of cellular debrisMark J Walport
Division of Medicine, Imperial College of Science,
Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road,
London, W12 0NN, UK.
m.walport@ic.ac.uk
Apoptotic and necrotic cells are strong candidates as sources of
the autoantigens that drive the autoantibody response in systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE). Defects in the physiological mechanisms for the clearance of dying
cells may promote disease susceptibility to SLE. Ablation of the mouse gene
Dnase1 results in the development of anti-chromatin autoimmunity and glomerulonephritis,
indicating that the enzyme protects against autoimmunity by digesting extracellular
chromatin.
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