In a study published in the Journal of Inflammatory Research, Mengmeng Xiang and colleagues investigated the function of a specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), called lncTAF15:1-1, to determine its contribution to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
SLE involves the activation of dendritic cells, which are pivotal in initiating immune responses. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) are particularly involved in SLE as they present antigens to other immune cells and produce cytokines. Specifically, the cytokine CCL5 is known to attract immune cells to sites of inflammation, contributing to disease progression.
However, just how moDCs release CCL5 during SLE isn’t fully understood. In this study, the researchers aimed to clarify how lncTAF15:1-1 affects the release of CCL5 and the movement of moDCs through a specific cell communication route called the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.