Role of Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Recent Progress from GWAS and Sequencing

Figure 1

Feedback loops between IL10 and TNFα-simplified model (from López et al. [4]). Th1 cells produce TNFα, which activates dendritic cells, other antigen presenting cells (APCs) and induces IL-10 production. TNFα also promotes inflammation and apoptosis, generating neoantigens that can produce autoantibodies. Conversely, IL-10 antagonizes Th1 differentiation and inhibits APCs and T cells. IL-10 strongly stimulates B-cell proliferation, differentiation, and antibody production. As such, B-cell activation in the presence of neoantigens may cause autoantibodies to be secreted and lead to tissue damage. Stat is a signal transducer and transcription activator.