Genetic dissection of systemic lupus erythematosus

Recent progress towards elucidating the genetic basis for susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has provided insights into the manner i n which individual susceptibility genes contribute to disease pathogenesis. Studies in animal models of systemic autoimmunity suggest that genes in th ree separate pathways contribute to the initiation and progression of syste mic autoimmunity. Linkage studies in humans suggest that at least some susc eptibility genes mediating disease in lupus-prone mice may also contribute to susceptibility in humans.