Pathogenesis of Skin Injury of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The second most common clinical expression in lupus patients is skin damage that the pathogenesis remains unclear. We discuss the role of pathological factors in the development of skin damage in SLE.

RECENT FINDINGS: Skin deposited IgG is a crucial pathologic factor in the development of skin damage in SLE. Macrophages and signaling of TNFα/TNFR1 and IFN/IFNR play an important role in the skin injury of SLE. The intracellular molecules including Syk and calcium/calmodulin 4 and NFAT are involved in the manifestation of skin damage in lupus-prone mice. UV is the most typical environmental factor to trigger skin injury in areas of IgG deposition in SLE. These evidences indicate that skin deposited IgG is a crucial pathological factor to trigger skin lesions in SLE and blockade of IgG signaling may be effective target against skin injury of SLE.