Greatest Lupus Genetic Risk Factor Pathway Revealed

The molecular mechanism that drives the disease-causing effects of the most common genetic risk factor for lupus,  HLA-DRB1*03:01, has been revealed in a new study.Systemic lupus erythematosus is a common, incurable autoimmune disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide, with a particularly high prevalence among women. The genetic variant HLA-DRB1*03:01 is the greatest risk factor for the condition, which involves inflammation in many vital organs, and can lead to severe disability and death.In the study, investigators found that a protein coded by that HLA variant triggers a...