The role of Ras signaling in lupus T lymphocytes: Biology and pathogenesis

Ras is a GTP-binding protein that plays multiple important roles in cell activation, including proliferative and inflammatory responses. Ras regulation is complex and depends upon post-translational processing, organelle-specific localization and the activation/deactivation of Ras by a number of regulatory molecules. Ras activation in T lymphocytes demonstrates unique features, including its dependence on the T cell receptor and the ability of Ras to signal from both the plasma membrane and the Golgi. Abnormalities of Ras expression, activation and signaling pathways in T lymphocytes appear to play important roles in the development of autoimmunity in general, and systemic lupus erythematosus in particular. In this manuscript, we review the basic biology of Ras in T lymphocytes, and the ways in which T lymphocyte Ras abnormalities may contribute to the development of a lupus phenotype.