The Genetic Epidemiology Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus In Chinese

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology characterized by the production of non-organ-specific autoantibodies directed to nuclear, cytoplasmic and cell surface antigens that may lead to a wide range of tissue injuries. About 10 years ago, a number of groups initiated the collection of families with multiple cases of systemic lupus erythematosus.Screenings of the genome were performed and several susceptibility loci were identified both for the disease itself, including HLA DR2 and DR3 genes, complement genes (C2, C4, C1q), Fey receptors genes, Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene et al.Regions of linkage were detected on almost every chromosome. In a study of 125 multiplex French Caucasian families with SLE, an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance was predicted in 1 extended pedigree with a clinically affected member and a recessive pattern in 5 other families. No obvious mode of inheritance could be suspected in most of the remaining pedigrees , A study of pedigrees of 340 patients with SLE by Buckman and his colleagues suggested that several possible explanations for the mode of inheritance including dominant, recessive and sex-linked dominant inheritance. When all the pedigrees were considered as a group, multifactorial inheritance was suggested.