CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF CALRETICULIN IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Calreticulin is an abundant intracellular protein which is proposed to have numerous biological functions. However, there is increasing evid ence to suggest that calreticulin prays a multifunctional role as an a utoantigen present in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In t his review we detail some of the recent evidence which indicate that c alreticulin may play a supportive role in the formation of the autoant igen complex -Ro/SS-A. In addition, several proposed mechanisms of rel ease and surface expression of calreticulin are described in relation to SLE mediated responses to the autoantigen. In particular, the gener ation of autoantibodies to specific regions of the protein and the abi lity of calreticulin to interfere with complement mediated inflammator y processes.