Viral double-stranded RNA aggravates lupus nephritis through Toll-like receptor 3 on glomerular mesangial cells and antigen-presenting cells
How viral infections trigger autoimmunity is poorly understood. A role for Toll-like receptor 3
(TLR3) was hypothesized in this context as viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) activates
dendritic cells to secrete type I interferons and cytokines that are known to be associated
with the disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Immunostaining of nephritic
kidney sections of autoimmune MRL lpr/lpr mice revealed TLR3 expression in infiltrating
antigen-presenting cells as well as in glomerular mesangial cells. TLR3-positive cultured …
(TLR3) was hypothesized in this context as viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) activates
dendritic cells to secrete type I interferons and cytokines that are known to be associated
with the disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Immunostaining of nephritic
kidney sections of autoimmune MRL lpr/lpr mice revealed TLR3 expression in infiltrating
antigen-presenting cells as well as in glomerular mesangial cells. TLR3-positive cultured …
