Leptin enhances availability of apoptotic cell-derived self-antigen in systemic lupus erythematosus.

ABSTRACT: In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the availability of self-antigen promotes and fuels self-reactive immune responses. Apoptotic cells represent a major source of self-antigens, and an impairment of the removal of apoptotic material containing self-antigen can contribute to the development of autoimmunity. To address whether the adipocytokine leptin--which favors autoimmune responses through little understood mechanisms--could modulate the handling of apoptotic cells in SLE, we evaluated the ability of leptin to modulate the capacity of macrophages to phagocytose apoptotic bodies in (NZB × NZW)F1 lupus mice. It was found that leptin promoted phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages by modulating cAMP levels in macrophages. This finding associated with an increased availability of

SUBMITTER: Amarilyo G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4234630 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature