The role of cAMP dependent gene transcription in lupus pathophysiology

T lymphocytes play a major role in the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus. T cellular dysregulation includes significant alterations in signal transduction, cytokine production and metabolic pathways. The cAMP dependent transcription factors like CREB and CREM exert pleiotropic functions as they are critically involved in epigenetic conformational changes and gene regulation of different key effector cytokines in CD4+ T cells including that of IL2, IL17 and IL21 genes. In the present review we review current knowledge on altered expression and function of these factors in T cells that promote autoimmunity in SLE patients.