A number of environmental triggers and a number of genetic susceptibilities may be the causes of SLE. A first cause of lupus may be genetic transmission. Research show that SLE may have a genetic link but no single causal gene has been identified. Instead, multiple genes appear to influence a person’s chance of developing lupus. Also, scientists have discovered that people with SLE may have a genetic defect in a cellular process called apoptosis. The affected cells are the T cells and B cells.
Environmental factors may not only exacerbate existing SLE conditions, but also trigger the initial onset. Some of the environment factors might include exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking and exposure to smoking, stress, and exposure to toxins.
Some medications are suspected triggers of lupus. In fact, a subset of the disease, drug-induced lupus is based on this notion. This type of lupus is usually brought on by long-term use of certain medications.
Research suggests that hormonal factors are linked to autoimmune disease such as SLE. For example, some studies find a correlation between increased risk of lupus and high levels of estrogen.
Root causes of SLE (lupus)
Drug-induced lupus mimics SLE and can help identify the root causes of SLE (lupus). However, symptoms of drug-induced SLE generally disappear once the medication that triggered the episode is stopped. In SLE, the body’s immune system produces antibodies against itself, particularly against proteins in the cell nucleus.
Lupus might be triggered by unknown environmental factors. The immune system must have a balance between being sensitive enough to protect against infection, and being too sensitive and attacking the body’s own proteins.
