Of Mice and Lupus

Lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that hurts the joints, the heart and the blood vessels, and in extreme cases constituting 20-40% of lupus patients, the kidneys and the central nerve system as well. Alongside these, in patients with CNS damage, neuropsychiatric features of lupus may also occur. This condition is referred to as NPSLE, and includes cognitive deficits, memory loss, depression, and anxiety. In an article published in Journal of Neuroinflammation, Prof. Chaim Putterman and his team present a molecular mechanism of NPSLE using the mouse model of lupus. The researchers found that the pro-inflammatory factor interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the blood and CSF of the model mice is negatively correlated with learning and memory performances. Deletion of the IL-6 gene in those mice prevented learning and memory deficit, as well as accumulation and activation of brain-specific immune cells (i.e. microglia and astrocytes) in areas vital for memory.