Altered IgG autoantibody levels and CD4(+) T cell subsets in lupus-prone Nba2 mice lacking the nuclear progesterone receptor.

ABSTRACT: Important interactions between female reproduction and autoimmunity are suggested by the female-predominance of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases and the amelioration of certain autoimmune diseases during pregnancy. Sexually dimorphic risk of developing SLE involves modulation of genetic risk by environmental factors, sex hormones and non-hormonal factors encoded on the sex chromosomes. In some lupus models, estrogen, via estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), enhances production of highly pathogenic IgG2a/c autoantibodies (autoAbs). Some studies indicate that treatment with progesterone, a chief female reproductive steroid, can suppress IgG2a/2c autoAb production. Little is known about how endogenous progesterone impacts lupus autoimmunity. To investigate this, we

SUBMITTER: Wong AH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4826613 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature