Cause of lupus may be genetic 'editing'

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 21 (UPI) -- U.S. scientist say they've found evidence that the abnormal "editing" of gene messages in a type of white blood cell might be the cause of lupus.

Researchers at Wake Forest University say they hope the finding will lead to earlier diagnosis, a way to monitor patients' response to therapy and possibly a new way to treat the disease.

Assistant Professor Dama Laxminarayana explained it is protein molecules that carry out the instructions of genes and determine how an organism looks, how well its body metabolizes food or fights infection, and even how it behaves.

Laxminarayana said that in systemic lupus erythematosus, the normal editing process goes awry, causing a shift in the balance of proteins that results in impaired functions in T cells -- a type of white blood cell involved in the regulation of immune functions.

Impaired T cell function is a hallmark of lupus -- a complex chronic autoimmune disorder that can range from a benign skin disorder to severe, life-threatening multisystem disease. It primarily affects women in their child-bearing years and is more common in blacks.

The study's findings are reported online in the journal Immunology.