Mutated neutrophils may drive lupus self-attacks

Researchers have discovered that lupus patients carry mutated immune cells called neutrophils that may trigger the body's self-attack, potentially revealing a root cause of the autoimmune disease. The findings were published in Nature. The study examined blood samples from 34 lupus patients and found 33 had neutrophils with splicing mutations producing "foreign" peptides. T cells and B cells recognized these as threats, launching attacks that may drive inflammation and tissue damage. Scientists caution the mutations may be a consequence rather than cause of inflammation. The discovery supports the "neoantigen hypothesis" of autoimmunity, suggesting immune cells may function normally but target mutated cells, offering new avenues for understanding and treating lupus.