[Signal transduction abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Engagement of T cell receptors by antigen-presenting cells or stimulation by cytokines determine whether the cell will become activated, anergic or die via apoptosis or necrosis. Ca2+ is a key second messenger that delivers signal from the cell surface, reactive oxygen intermediates and nitric oxide are recently recognized as important mediators of T cell activation. Nitric oxide is a multifunctional intracellular and intercellular messenger induces mitochondrial biogenesis in many cell types, such as lymphocytes. Mitochondria produce reactive oxygen intermediates and store and release Ca2+ in response to activation and death signals. Rapid Ca2+ fluxing is increased while sustained Ca2+ signaling is decreased in lupus T cells. Lupus T cells contain increased numbers and mass of mitochondria. Serum nitric oxide levels and production of nitric oxide by monocytes is increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus T cells exhibit mitochondrial hyperpolarization and increased mitochondrial mass, which confer predisposition to necrosis rather than apoptosis in response to repetitive activation and death signals. Exposure of normal T cells to nitric oxide dose-dependently increase the mitochondrial mass and mimic rapid and sustained Ca2+ signal abnormalities observed in lupus T cells. Thus increased mitochondrial biogenesis may account for altered Ca2+ handling and represents novel targets for pharmacological intervention in SLE.