Lupus-associated rash. Credit: Joanne Arndt

Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA), US, have found that lupus and atrophic macular degeneration share an inflammatory pathway.

Led by Professor Jayakrishna Ambati, founding director of the Center for Advanced Vision Science, UVA, researchers discovered inflammasomes NLRC4 and NLRP3 drive both lupus’ hyperactive immune response and the inflammation that destroys macula cells in macular degeneration.

Prof Ambati and his team have developed Kamuvudines – therapeutics that block this dual inflammasome, potentially treating these and related inflammatory conditions – which should start clinical trials in 2023.