NF-κB and systemic lupus erythematosus: examining the link.

Physicians should be knowledgeable regarding several aspects of autoimmune disorders, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with which patients can present in their office with urticaria or vasculitis and which may masquerade as another condition. This paper reviews the link between NF-κB and SLE, including B-cell development, signaling and cytokines which play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of SLE and T-cell development, a key player in T-cell activation. The roles of dendritic cells, which can promote tolerance or immunity to antigens, of polymorphisms and of NF-κB, which are linked with SLE, are also discussed. The role of Toll-like receptors which are important in the pathogenesis of SLE and lupus nephritis is also discussed.