Systemic Lupus Erythematosus News and Research

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the form of the disease that most people are referring to when they say "lupus." The word "systemic" means the disease can affect many parts of the body. The symptoms of SLE may be mild or serious. Although SLE usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life as well.

New hormone receptor strategy offers targeted treatment for lupus

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside and City of Hope have identified a new strategy for treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues.

2 Nov 2026

Mutated neutrophils may trigger immune attacks in lupus

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and the University of Washington (UW) have discovered that patients with lupus have unusual mutations that may turn their bodies into battlegrounds.

28 Oct 2026

Nearly one in three women with autoimmune diseases waited at least four years for a diagnosis, survey finds

An international study of 6,607 adults with autoimmune diseases found that female participants reported longer diagnostic delays, more clinician visits, and higher rates of perceived psychiatric and psychosomatic misdiagnoses than males. The findings suggest sex-related differences in diagnostic experiences, although the researchers cautioned that patient-reported misdiagnoses were not independently verified and the causes of these disparities remain uncertain.

15 Oct 2026

In vivo CAR-T therapy transforms customized treatments into universal medicines

A collaborative team led by Professor Huji Xu from Naval Medical University, China, together with Professors Xuanming Yang and Yujia Cai at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, published a comprehensive review in Volume 2, article number 33 of the journal Immunity & Inflammation on August 31, 2026.

25 Sep 2026

Lupus-linked genetic variants may boost antiviral immunity

Why do genetic variants that increase the risk of autoimmune disease remain so common in the population?

11 Sep 2026

Autoimmune diseases form distinct genetic clusters, study finds

Different autoimmune diseases often share genetic risk factors, but not through a single common genetic vulnerability.

4 Sep 2026

Study shows how the immune system behaves throughout pregnancy

New research shows how the immune system actually behaves throughout pregnancy – cell by cell. In women with lupus, the immunological differences also persist after birth.

14 Aug 2026

Pediatric rheumatic diseases have unique genetic architecture compared to adults

Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found that pediatric-onset rheumatic and inflammatory diseases have distinct genetic architecture compared with adults.

12 Aug 2026

Dysregulation of immune regulator NF-κB drives major human diseases

NF‑κB controls genes involved in inflammation, immunity, cell survival, and proliferation. Triggered by cytokines (TNF‑α, IL‑1β), microbial products, or cellular stress, it translocates to the nucleus and induces pro‑inflammatory mediators.

13 Jul 2026

Scientists find link between bacterium in the gut ecosystem and lupus

Scientists at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, found a link between a bacterium in the gut microbiome, or ecosystem, and lupus, which could lead to more effective treatment of the disease, in a study published in Nature Communications.

25 Jun 2026

Researchers uncover key mechanism driving chronic Sjögren disease

Sjögren disease, an autoimmune disease characterized by dry mouth and dry eyes, may reduce patients’ quality of life.

24 Jun 2026

Review finds vitamin D lacks disease-modifying effect in rheumatic diseases

A new review from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Osteoimmunology Working Group, published in Osteoporosis International, provides a comprehensive evaluation of the role of vitamin D in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

8 Jun 2026

Patient organizations strengthen support for people with rheumatic diseases

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are chronic, often lifelong conditions. EULAR - The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology - works with the network of national organizations of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE) to ensure the voices of people with RMD are heard and have influence among decision makers - creating powerful alliances that make a real difference to lives.

7 Jun 2026

EULAR 2026 highlights rising comorbidity risks in rheumatic disease

People with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are at risk of a number of comorbidities, from cardiovascular diseases to cognitive impairment and fractures.

4 Jun 2026

CAR-T cell therapy shows promise for treating rheumatoid arthritis

Current therapies for rheumatoid arthritis rely on sustained immunosuppression rather than restoration of immune tolerance, with off-drug remission remaining rare.

3 Jun 2026

Hydroxychloroquine lowers heart risks in skin lupus patients

A study led by investigators from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that some patients with discoid lupus erythematosus - a form of skin lupus commonly diagnosed in young to middle-aged Black women that causes disc-shaped plaques to form on the body - were less likely to experience complications, such as diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease if they were prescribed hydroxychloroquine.

26 May 2026

Study reveals why women face higher autoimmune disease risks

Ahead of World Lupus Day on May 10, new research from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney helps explain why women are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease – a condition where the immune system misfires and mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues.

7 May 2026

Scientists redesign CAR-T cells to fight more than cancer

This review examines how CAR-T cell therapy is expanding beyond blood cancers into solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, chronic viral infections, and next-generation immune-cell platforms. It highlights promising engineering advances, including universal CAR-T cells, in vivo delivery, CAR-NK cells, and safety switches, while emphasizing unresolved challenges in durability, safety, scalability, and global access.

29 Apr 2026

Researchers identify molecular link between autoimmune disease and lymphoma risk

Patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of developing lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system.

13 Apr 2026