Recent advances in the mechanisms and treatment of cuproptosis in autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases, characterized by the immune system's erroneous attack on the body's own tissues, are highly challenging to treat. Recently discovered cuproptosis, triggered by excess copper ions, leads to the abnormal accumulation of acetylated proteins and mitochondrial dysfunction, and has become a research hotspot in this field. Recent studies have shown that cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) play a potential role in various autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and hold promise for diagnosis and regulation. This article systematically reviews the latest progress of cuproptosis in autoimmune diseases, explores the potential of CRGs as diagnostic biomarkers and immune modulators, evaluates the therapeutic potential of targeting CRGs, and looks forward to how nanotechnology can revolutionize treatment strategies. By elucidating the mechanisms of cuproptosis in autoimmune diseases, this article aims to pave new paths for future research and lay the foundation for innovative therapies.