Is activity of childhood lupus nephritis linked to altered T cell and cytokine homeostasis?
Children with active LN display high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with an increase in effector T cells and reduction of regulatory T cells. Therapeutic regulation of the aberrant cytokine profile might specifically interrupt pathogenic mechanisms.
HMGCR gene polymorphisms are associated with reduced plasma LDL-C and LDL-C response to simvastatin, and these effects are most evident in blacks.