The Rheumatologist reports on study findings showing antibodies that react with long interspersed nuclear elements (LINE-1) p40 protein may be common in severe and active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Mary K. Crow, MD, physician-in-chief emerita of Rheumatology at HSS, who was not involved in the study, has previously reported on the connection between LINE-1 and the pathogenesis of SLE. Some of her previous work supports the potential role for LINE-1 in some patients with SLE and a link between LINE-1 and type 1 interferon production. However, Dr. Crow believes the connection is still speculative. In a 2019 letter to the editor published in Arthritis Rheumatology, Dr. Crow noted that LINE-1 p40 and other proteins implicated as autoantigens in systemic autoimmune disease should be priority research targets.

Read the full article at the-rheumatologist.com.