Timothy Niewold, MD, FACR

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2009 Genetics

Novel Genes Associated with African-American Lupus

Recent studies have identified genes that increase susceptibility to lupus in people of European ancestry. With LRI funding, Dr. Niewold will now search for genes specifically associated with lupus in people of African-American ancestry—a population more commonly affected by the disease, and also far more likely to experience severe disease.

Following up on findings that higher levels of the immune system signaling molecule, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), are found in African Americans than in Caucasians with lupus, Dr. Niewold hypothesizes that certain genes in the former group cause dysregulation of the pathway for IFN-alpha, thus increasing lupus susceptibility and severity.

The goal: information that will enable physicians to individualize and improve treatment for African Americans with lupus.

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