Lupus Nephritis Patterns and Response to Type I Interferon in Patients With DNASE1L3 Variants: Report of Three Cases
DNASE1L3 is an extracellular nuclease that digests chromatin released from apoptotic cells. DNASE1L3 variants impair the enzyme function, enhance autoantibody production and type I interferon (IFN-I) responses, and cause different autosomal recessive phenotypes ranging from hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome to full-blown systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Kidney involvement in patients with DNASE1L3 variants is poorly characterized. Herein, we describe the clinical course of 3 children with monogenic SLE due to DNASE1L3 variants who developed refractory glomerulonephritis leading to kidney failure.