The CD40-CD40L pathway is a promising treatment target for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis.
The CD40-CD40L pathway is a promising treatment target for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and lupus nephritis.
Tubulointerstitial expression levels of NF-kappaB and AP-1 downstream inflammatory molecules and NF-kappaB upstream signaling molecules CD40 and CD40L were markedly enhanced in LN as compared with MCD or normal controls and were associated with tubulointerstitial histopathological indices and/or renal function.
Together, these results indicate that patients with active lupus nephritis exhibit abnormalities in the peripheral B cell compartment that are consistent with intensive germinal center activity, are driven via CD154-CD40 interactions, and may reflect or contribute to the propensity of these patients to produce autoantibodies.