Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system attacks its own body’s tissues as well as foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Unlike another well-known autoimmune disease, type 1 diabetes, lupus attacks various parts of the body, with the skin, joints, blood and kidneys generally the most affected. Its causes are still unknown, but research indicates that both genetics and environment play roles. Severity ranges from mild to serious and even life-threatening, and there is no cure.
Estimates by the Lupus Foundation of America say that up to 2 million Americans have some form of lupus, and more than 90 percent of them are women. Medical advances allow most patients to keep the disease well managed, however. What is more, ongoing research has vastly improved the current prognosis and promises to yield even better treatments for the future.
Lupus research at The Jackson Laboratory
The Jackson Laboratory has multiple research programs investigating basic genetic pathways for autoimmune diseases and disorders. Lupus research focuses on a thorough evaluation of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease pathway to understand the genetic and mechanistic basis of the disease.
