The applied basic research of systemic lupus erythematosus based on the biological omics

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear self-antigens and circulating immune complexes. This results in damages to various organs or systems, including skin, joints, kidneys and the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations of SLE could be diverse, including glomerulonephritis, dermatitis, thrombosis, vasculitis, seizures and arthritis. The complicated pathogenesis and varied clinical symptoms of SLE pose great challenges in the diagnosis and monitoring of this disease. Unfortunately, the etiological factors and pathogenesis of SLE are still not completely understood. It is noteworthy that recent advances in our understanding of the biological omics and emerging technologies have been providing new tools in the analyses of SLE, such as genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and so on. In this article, we summarize our current knowledge in this field for a better understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment for SLE. Genes and Immunity (2013) 14, 133-146; doi:10.1038/gene.2013.3; published online 28 February 2013