Inflammasome polymorphisms in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

Inflammasome is the cytoplasmic complex responsible for pro-IL1 β cleavage and secretion of IL-1β. Recently our group reported the first association between polymorphisms in the inflammasome receptor <i>NLRP1</i> and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) “<i>di per se</i>” and especially in SLE-associated renal disease, suggesting the involvement of NLRP1-inflammasome in the immune dysregulation characteristic of SLE patients. Considering that juvenile-onset SLE (JSLE) is more severe than adult SLE, and that the genetic background plays a major role in the early development of autoimmune diseases, we analysed selected polymorphisms in inflammasome genes (<i>NLRP1, NLRP3, CARD8, IL1B, TNFAIP3</i>) of children and adolescents with JSLE (<i>n</i> = 90) and in healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 144). A single polymorphism in <i>IL1B</i>, and not <i>NLRP1,</i> gene resulted in association with JSLE, suggesting that IL-1 β is involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, but different genes could play specific role in adult- or early-onset disease.