Due to their ability to produce high amounts of type I interferon, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) are mainly responsible for the development of the systemic autoimmune disease Lupus Erythematosus. In this work we studied the pathogenic RNA-containing autoimmune complexes and their ability to activate TLR7 in conventional (c)DC and PDC’s. These cells have been stimulated with selected U1snRNP/Anti-Sm antibody (Ab) immune complexes (IC). This stimulation leads to a TLR7 dependent expression of IFN-α, IL-6 and the costimulatory molecule CD86. Thereby U1snRNA (within the U1snRNP-complex) acts as an endogenous ligand for TLR7. Using the pristane-induced murine lupus model we studied the role of TLR7 in vivo for anti-snRNP antibody production and the development of lupus nephritis induced by an exogenous factor. We found that the anti-snRNP-Ab production is dependent on TLR7. The reduction of anti-snRNP antibodies was paralleled by lower glomerular IgG and complement deposition as well as less severe glomerulonephritis
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Due to their ability to produce high amounts of type I interferon, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) are mainly responsible for the development of the systemic autoimmune disease Lupus Erythematosus. In this work we studied the pathogenic RNA-containing autoimmune complexes and their ability to activate TLR7 in conventional (c)DC and PDC’s. These cells have been stimulated with selected U1snRNP/Anti-Sm antibody (Ab) immune complexes (IC). This stimulation leads to a TLR7 dependent expression of...
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