Systemic lupus erythematosus, atherosclerosis, and autoantibodies

Over the past number of years numerous data have been published regarding increased atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and it has been shown that premature or accelerated atherosclerosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Besides the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the association between SLE and atherosclerosis can be attributed to additional risk factors closely related to inflammation and autoimmunity. In particular, several autoantibodies and their respective autoantigens have been identified as possible factors in the development and progression of the atherosclerotic process in SLE. The understanding of SLE-related risk factors for enhanced atherosclerosis could shed more light on disease mechanisms, leading to new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in SLE patients. In the present paper, the biological characteristics and possible pathogenetic role of the oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and anti-oxLDL, beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI) and anti-beta(2)GPI, and heat-shock protein 60/65 (HSP60/65) and anti-HSP60/65 autoantibody systems are summarized.