Understanding How Aging Reduces Lupus Symptoms in Older Patients

In a groundbreaking study published in *Science Translational Medicine* on July 28, 2025, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have uncovered a significant biological mechanism that explains why some patients with lupus experience symptom relief as they age. The study, led by Dr. Chaz Langelier, an Associate Professor of Medicine, reveals that certain inflammation-related genes become less active over time in lupus patients, contrasting with the typical inflammatory processes seen in healthy aging.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system's overproduction of interferons, which can lead to severe damage across multiple organ systems, including the kidneys and heart. Despite its debilitating effects, many lupus patients report a marked improvement in symptoms during their 60s and 70s. Dr. Sarah Patterson, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCSF, explained, "I see my younger lupus patients in their 20s, 30s, and 40s every few months, monitoring them closely for signs of severe disease, but many of my older patients just once a year to touch base. If patients make it through those risky decades, they sometimes see a dramatic improvement."

The research team analyzed blood samples from a diverse cohort of lupus patients across various ages. Their findings indicated that while inflammation-related genes and proteins typically increase with age in healthy individuals, a reversal occurs in lupus patients. The study found that these patients exhibited heightened levels of inflammatory signaling during mid-life, which gradually decreased as they aged, suggesting an atypical aging process referred to as 'inflammaging' had been mitigated.

"Inflammaging seemed to be reversed in the lupus patients," stated Dr. Langelier. However, he noted, the inflammatory signaling in older lupus patients remained higher than that of their healthy counterparts, indicating that while aging offers some respite, it does not completely restore immune function.

The implications of this research extend beyond lupus. The UCSF team plans to investigate whether drugs that inhibit interferon activity are more or less effective based on the patient's age, with hopes of applying their findings to other inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

This study not only sheds light on the age-related dynamics of lupus but also poses broader questions about the interplay between aging and autoimmune diseases. The researchers aim to further explore the mechanisms underlying these changes, which could lead to new therapeutic approaches for managing lupus and similar inflammatory disorders.

The study received funding from prominent institutions, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicating its potential significance in the scientific community. With the ongoing investigation into the role of age in autoimmune diseases, this research may pave the way for more effective treatments that leverage the natural aging process to mitigate chronic inflammation.