Research Progress on the Pathogenic Mechanism and Molecular Drug Development of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multi-organ, systemic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women of childbearing age and can lead to damage in multiple organs. The immune system's equilibrium is upset in SLE patients, which leads to immune cells attacking healthy tissues and impairing cells' capacity to eliminate apoptotic materials. Consequently, the body accumulates nuclear antigens, which facilitates the production of antinuclear antibodies by B cells. Immune complexes are created when nuclear antigens and antinuclear antibodies interact. These immune complexes travel throughout the body with the blood flow, depositing in various organs, causing inflammation in different areas, excessively activating the complement system, and impacting multiple organs. One of the serious and relatively common complications that can arise is lupus nephritis. Since SLE affects many organs and nearly all body systems with recurrent episodes over a patient's lifetime, it causes significant suffering for those affected. Moreover, due to its complex mechanism and the difficulty in treatment, SLE is known as the "incurable cancer", and currently, molecular drugs still cannot provide a radical cure. Regarding the drug treatment of SLE, immunosuppressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoid drugs, and biological agents are still the mainstays at present. This article will start from the pathogenesis of SLE to introduce the application of drugs for SLE and summarize the development process of drugs for this disease in recent years.