A protective role for innate immunity in autoimmune disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an incurable autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies directed against highly conserved nuclear proteins and DNA. While the cause of lupus is not known, B-lymphocytes are essential for disease. Most striking is that deficiency in components of the innate immune system such as complement is a major risk factor in disease. One explanation for the involvement of complement and innate immunity is that they are important in the induction and maintenance of B cell tolerance to lupus antigens. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.