CD4+ Th1 cells are effectors in lupus nephritis—but what are their targets?

Abstract

Lupus nephritis involves both humoral and cellular effectors. Okamoto and colleagues isolated renal CD4+ cells from lupus-prone mice, selecting cells expressing T-cell receptors on the basis of their activity. After transfecting CD4+ cells with the relevant T-cell receptors, they transferred them into mice and induced more severe glomerulonephritis. This study supports a direct role for Th1 cells in lupus nephritis, although their antigenic specificity remains uncertain, as they did not recognize nucleosomes.