Leptin promotes lupus T-cell autoimmunity
In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the impairment in apoptosis can facilitate the
initiation and maintenance of autoimmune responses to self antigens. Here we show that the
adipocytokine leptin, which is abnormally elevated in SLE, promotes the survival and
proliferation of autoreactive T-cells in mice with an autoreactive T-cell repertoire, including
(NZB x NZW) F 1 lupus-prone mice. This ability of leptin to promote lupus T-cell
autoimmunity suggests the possibility of a therapeutic targeting of leptin in SLE.
initiation and maintenance of autoimmune responses to self antigens. Here we show that the
adipocytokine leptin, which is abnormally elevated in SLE, promotes the survival and
proliferation of autoreactive T-cells in mice with an autoreactive T-cell repertoire, including
(NZB x NZW) F 1 lupus-prone mice. This ability of leptin to promote lupus T-cell
autoimmunity suggests the possibility of a therapeutic targeting of leptin in SLE.