Causes and Effects of Lupus
- Students vs. Pandemics
- Dec 10
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Written by Emma Nakazato, Edited by Maya Rose Homsy King
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that has serious detrimental effects on the body’s immune system. Lupus causes immune responses that damage the body’s healthy tissues and organs. It is life-threatening and can lead to severe infections, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.¹ There are some factors that can lead to its development. It is important to identify possible symptoms of lupus, genetic and environmental causes, and risk factors in order to ensure diagnosis.
Lupus can be identified by a few symptoms. Some common symptoms include fever, photosensitivity, serositis (tissue inflammation commonly resulting in chest pain), and arthralgia (joint pain).¹ Additionally, some of the symptoms of lupus result from cancer, such as significant weight loss, metabolic disturbances, skin changes, fatigue, and cachexia (a condition that causes significant weight loss and muscle loss).¹ This is because lupus is a common risk factor for the development of certain cancers. It is also common for people dealing with lupus to experience two or more medical diseases or conditions.
Lupus can be partially attributed to a variety of genetic factors. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system on chromosome 6 is associated with immune-mediated diseases, such as lupus. It encodes proteins that are crucial for immune function, hence its linkage with autoimmune diseases.² The presence of certain HLA risk alleles are associated with the presence of lupus.² Additionally, people of Amerindian, South-Asian, East-Asian, and African heritage have higher SLE-PRS (numerical estimate of an individual’s genetic predisposition to developing lupus) than Europeans, meaning they are more likely to get lupus.² Another genetic cause is defects in nucleic acid sensing and processing, which results in the production and release of proteins produced in response to viral infections. This results in damage to the tissues and organs.³ However, this cause is also influenced by the environment, which has other effects on the development of lupus.
While genetics play a part in the development of lupus, the environment can be a trigger for lupus. Exposure to infectious agents, chemicals, pollutants, drugs, and smoking are factors for epigenetics.⁴ This causes increased autoimmune responses and antibody formation, and the immune system experiences dysregulation.⁴ Other major environmental triggers include bacteria or other autoimmune triggers that involve antiviral responses that cause damage, especially to the kidneys, skin, and joints.¹ Furthermore, DNA methylation is greatly associated with the development of lupus. DNA methylation is a chemical modification that is caused by diet, toxins, and lifestyle habits. It is linked to altered receptor and ligand interactions, transcription factor signaling, and cytokine expression.¹ This causes the variable genotype and phenotype correlations in inflammatory diseases, including lupus. Another epigenetic factor is dysregulation of genes associated with antiviral responses linked to increased expression in PBMCs, CD4ᐩ/CD8ᐩ T cells, CD19ᐩ B cells, and CD16ᐩ neutrophils, which are all cells associated with the immune system and fight infections by destroying cells.¹ However, this puts the immune system at risk because this results in inflammation, as this epigenetic dysregulation results in the body attacking its own tissues.
Lifestyle and environmental factors can increase the likelihood of getting lupus. For example, smoking, which can also cause hypertension, increases the risk for the loss of kidney function.³ Additionally, toxic components inhaled by smoking can impair the function of immune function and killer cell function.⁴ Furthermore, bacterial infections, which can be contracted through poor hygiene or travel, can affect the chances of getting lupus. Bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group D Streptococcus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli contribute to the development of lupus because the body will increase its antiviral responses, causing inflammation.² Diet and physical activity can cause lupus by causing atherosclerosis. It can trigger lupus because the buildup of fats and cholesterol block blood flow, triggering threatening immune responses.² Lastly, prolonged steroid use in people’s lifestyles can contribute to an increased likelihood of getting lupus. For instance, glucocorticoid treatment, which are steroids that suppress the immune system, for prolonged periods of time can put someone at risk for getting lupus because it puts people at risk for getting infections, causing the body to attack its own tissues.² While people cannot entirely prevent themselves from getting lupus, certain lifestyle choices can put people at higher risk for getting it.
Unfortunately, lupus currently has no cure; however, its impact can be reduced through treatments that address related conditions like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and infections.⁵ This will help reduce inflammation, decreasing the damage on the immune system. Furthermore, identification of predictors of organ involvement and disease outcomes can help doctors come up with a treatment plan.¹ Additionally, the use of hydroxychloroquine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants can help; however, relying on these medications for long periods of time can also have detrimental effects on people’s hormones and can put people at risk of getting infections.³
Lupus can be attributed to a variety of genetic and environmental causes because both can affect the way the body’s immune system reacts. There are genes and environmental exposures that can put people at risk for getting lupus. Lupus can also be challenging for people to manage, as it has no cure and greatly affects people’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Hopefully in the future, researchers can potentially explore advancements in drug and cell therapies to find a cure to lupus.
References
Heinlen LD, McClain MT, Merrill J, et al. Clinical criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus precede diagnosis, and associated autoantibodies are present before clinical symptoms. American College of Rheumatology. 2007;56(7):2344-2351.
Charras A, Hiraki LT, Lewandowski L, Hedrich CM. Genetic and epigenetic factors shape phenotypes and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus - focus on juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Current Opinion in Rheumatology. 2025;37(2):149-163.
Zen M, Salmaso L, Barbiellini Amidei C, et al. Mortality and causes of death in systemic lupus erythematosus over the last decade: Data from a large population-based study. European Journal of Internal Medicine. 2023;112:45-51.
Sarzi-Puttini P, Atzeni F, Laccarino L, Doria A. Environment and systemic lupus erythematosus: An overview. Taylor & Francis Online. 2005;38(7):465-472.
Trager J, Ward MM. Mortality and causes of death in systemic lupus erythematosus. Current Opinion in Rheumatology. 2001;13(5):345-351.
This article summarizes current research on lupus and does not provide medical advice. Terminology related to sex and gender reflects the language used in cited biomedical research. Individual experiences may vary, and readers should consult qualified healthcare professionals for diagnosis or treatment.
This post is not a substitute for professional advice. If you believe that you may be experiencing a medical emergency, please contact your primary care physician, or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Results from ongoing research are constantly evolving. This post contains information that was last updated in December 2025.
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