Phenotype and function of natural killer cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: Excess interferon-γ production in patients with active disease

NK cells in patients with active SLE display phenotypic and functional features associated with activation. Furthermore, NK cells from patients with active SLE have the capacity to produce large amounts of IFNγ. This could contribute to the dysregulation of the link between innate and adaptive immunity seen in SLE.