Abstract: The past two years have brought great progress in the genetics of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) heralded by the publication of genome-wide association studies in humans and the identification of susceptibility genes in mouse models of spontaneous lupus. This influx of new information has revealed an ever-increasing interdependence between the mouse and human systems for unraveling the genetic basis of lupus susceptibility. SLE is a complex disease in which defects in several functional pathways have been identified. Genetic variants in a number of genes in these pathways have now been directly associated with lupus in both species. These discoveries have lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of disease, and offer potential novel target for therapeutic intervention. As a large number of susceptibility genes are identified, lupus genetics will focus on mechanistic and molecular studies, in which mouse models will continue to serve a pre-eminent role. ... Read more

Abstract: Rheumatic diseases vary by season in severity. Of course, environmental factors, such as temperature and moisture, contribute to the seasonality of some diseases. But other important factors, including as levels of hormones, antibodies, inflammatory factors, and immune response readiness, could greatly contribute to disease seasonalities. ... Read more