DcR3 mutations in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus lead to enhanced lymphocyte proliferation.

Objective: Previous studies suggested a role for the death decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in the pathogenesis of adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated the role of DcR3 in juvenile-onset SLE, to identify polymorphisms that might alter the function of this protein.

Methods: DcR3 was measured in the serum of 61 patients with juvenile SLE.