SLE—a disease of clearance deficiency?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial disease and its pathogenesis and precise aetiology remain unknown. Under physiological conditions, neither apoptotic nor necrotic cell material is easily found in tissues because of its quick removal by a highly efficient scavenger system. Autoantigens are found in apoptotic and necrotic material and they are recognized by autoimmune sera from SLE patients. The clearance of dying cells is...