Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and the University of Washington (UW) have discovered that patients with lupus have unusual mutations that may turn their bodies into battlegrounds.

These mutations are widespread in immune cells called neutrophils. Other immune cells see the mutated neutrophils as a threat—and they try to fight back. This internal battle may contribute to the development of painful inflammation, debilitating joint pain and other serious lupus symptoms throughout the body.

“This may get to the very crux of the disease pathogenesis,” says LJI professor Stephen Schoenberger, Ph.D., who co-led the new Nature study with UW School of Medicine professor Tomas Mustelin, M.D., Ph.D.