Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Research Reagents

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multi-organ autoimmune disease affecting approximately 5 million people worldwide, driven by loss of immune tolerance, autoantibody production, immune complex deposition, and complement activation. The type I interferon (IFN) signature is present in >50% of patients and correlates with disease severity. Key autoantibodies include anti-dsDNA (specific for SLE, correlating with nephritis activity) and anti-Smith (Sm). Treatment includes hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, mycophenolate, belimumab (anti-BLyS/BAFF, first biologic approved for SLE), anifrolumab (anti-IFNAR1, targeting the type I IFN pathway), voclosporin for lupus nephritis, and emerging CD19-targeted CAR-T cell therapy for refractory disease.

Research Use Only (RUO)Not intended for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

SLE Research Reagents — key pathogenic pathways including type I IFN signaling, BLyS/BAFF-driven B cell survival, anti-dsDNA immune complex deposition, and complement C3/C4 consumption

Fig. 1 Key pathogenic pathways and research targets in SLE. Type I IFN drives immune activation via IFNAR1; BLyS/BAFF promotes autoreactive B cell survival; anti-dsDNA immune complexes deposit in kidneys and vasculature; complement C3/C4 consumption reflects disease activity. Key research targets highlighted in orange.

abinScience provides validated reference antibodies, recombinant proteins, anti-drug antibodies, and ELISA kits for SLE research — including anifrolumab and belimumab reference antibodies, anti-dsDNA ELISA kits, and anti-complement antibodies. Anti-CD19 antibodies (93 products) also support the rapidly growing CAR-T cell therapy research in refractory SLE. All products are manufactured by our parent company AtaGenix Laboratories under ISO quality systems. Browse products below or contact us for custom antibody development.

Key Research Targets

IFN-α / IFNAR1 — The type I interferon pathway is the central driver of SLE pathogenesis. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells produce IFN-α, which signals through IFNAR1 to amplify immune activation and autoantibody production. Anifrolumab (anti-IFNAR1) is the first type I IFN pathway-targeting biologic approved for SLE. abinScience offers the anifrolumab reference antibody, anifrolumab ELISA kit, sifalimumab (anti-IFN-α) reference antibody, and anti-IFNAR1 recombinant antibodies for mechanism-of-action and immunogenicity studies.
→ Browse IFN-α / IFNAR1 antibodies & ELISA kits

BLyS / BAFF (TNFSF13B) — BLyS/BAFF is a key B cell survival factor that promotes autoreactive B cell persistence and autoantibody production in SLE. Belimumab (anti-BLyS) was the first biologic approved for SLE. abinScience offers belimumab and tabalumab reference antibodies, anti-belimumab polyclonal antibody, anti-BAFFR reference antibody (ianalumab), and telitacicept (anti-BLyS/APRIL dual inhibitor) reference antibody for B cell biology and immunogenicity research.
→ Browse BLyS / BAFF antibodies & proteins

Anti-dsDNA — Anti-dsDNA autoantibodies are highly specific for SLE and correlate with lupus nephritis activity and disease flares. Anti-dsDNA mouse IgG ELISA kits, anti-dsDNA recombinant antibodies (clones B3, 3D8), and anti-ssDNA/dsDNA/Z-DNA antibodies support diagnostic ELISA development, autoantibody characterization, and immune complex formation studies in SLE animal models.
→ Browse anti-dsDNA antibodies & ELISA kits

Complement C3 / C4 — Low serum C3 and C4 levels reflect complement consumption via the classical pathway and are standard biomarkers for monitoring SLE disease activity and lupus nephritis. Anti-complement C3 reference antibodies (NGM621), anti-C4 recombinant and reference antibodies (lupartumab), and anti-C4 polyclonal antibodies with fluorescent conjugates support complement deposition IHC, tissue immunofluorescence, and immunoassay development.
→ Browse complement C3 / C4 antibodies

References

1. Tsokos GC. Systemic lupus erythematosus. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(22):2110-2121. DOI

2. Morand EF, et al. Trial of anifrolumab in active systemic lupus erythematosus. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(3):211-221. DOI

3. Navarra SV, et al. Efficacy and safety of belimumab in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet. 2011;377(9767):721-731. DOI

4. Rovin BH, et al. Efficacy and safety of voclosporin versus placebo for lupus nephritis. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(22):2003-2015. DOI