Recent advances have shed light on the biochemical and molecular aberrations that lead to the characteristic cytokine production pattern and altered behavior of T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This article reviews how this knowledge helps explain the nature of the SLE T cell, identifies therapeutic targets that deserve further development, and identifies biomarkers of disease activity.
- José C. Crispín
- Vasileios C. Kyttaris
- George C. Tsokos