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Christopher Sjöwall

Professor

My long-term ambition is to contribute to increased understanding of underlying mechanisms for disease-onset, progress and quality of life in systemic inflammatory diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus.

Clinical and experimental rheumatology

The rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondylarthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) belong to the endemic diseases, affecting more than 1 percent of the population of Sweden.

The immune system which protects us from bacterial and viral infections may in certain individuals with genetic susceptibility which are exposed to certain environmental factors loose its tolerance and attack endogenous tissues and organs. Knowledge on the etiology of rheumatic disease is increasing, and the number of treatment options for patients who suffer has risen dramatically in recent years.

My group is studying underlying mechanisms for rheumatic diseases, especially SLE, as well as biomarkers and autoantibodies in relation to diagnosis, treatment response and prognosis.


News

Christopher Sjöwall presents the book Rheumatology.

Christopher Sjöwall in the editorial committee for the new edition of textbook in rheumatology

Christopher Sjöwall, professor at Linköping University, has participated in the editorial committee for the latest edition of the textbook Rheumatology. The book is an important resource for students and professionals in medicine and healthcare.
Blood sampling in clinical setting from finger.

C-reactive protein reduces immune response in inflammatory disease

The biological function of the C-reactive protein, CRP, has long been unknown. Researchers now show that this protein has a beneficial function in SLE, an inflammatory disease. But this is true only for one of CRP’s two forms, according to the study.

Publications

Selected publications

Extracellular vesicles opsonized by monomeric C-reactive protein (CRP) are accessible as autoantigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and associate with autoantibodies against CRP

Karlsson J, Wetterö J, Potempa LA, Fernandez-Botran R, O'Neill Y, Wirestam L, Mobarrez F and Sjöwall C.

Journal of Autoimmunity, 2023-09-01, Volume 139, Article 103073, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103073

Graphical Abstract from the publication: Extracellular vesicles opsonized by monomeric C-reactive protein (CRP) are accessible as autoantigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and associate with autoantibodies against CRP

Conformational state of C-reactive protein is critical for reducing immune complex-triggered type I interferon response: Implications for pathogenic mechanisms in autoimmune diseases imprinted by type I interferon gene dysregulation

Svanberg C, Enocsson H, Govender M, Martinsson K, Potempa LA, Rajab IM, Fernandez-Botran R, Wetterö J, Larsson M och Sjöwall C.

Journal of Autoimmunity, 2023-02-01, Volume 135, Article 102998, Copyright © 2023 The Authors

Graphical Abstract.

 

C-Reactive Protein Levels in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Are Modulated by the Interferon Gene Signature and CRP Gene Polymorphism rs1205

Enocsson H, Gullstrand B, Eloranta M-L, Wetterö J, Leonard D, Rönnblom L, Bengtsson A och Sjöwall C.

Front. Immunol., 28 January 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.622326

Figure 2 CRP levels among patients with and without detectable IL-6 levels (Z-axis) along with different CRP genotype (rs1205) and type I IFN gene signature (IGS) status (X-axis). Bars show median values.

Latest publications in DiVA

2026

Cecilia Svanberg, Ravi Prasad Mukku, Sabri Özkan Besler, Francis Hopkins, Christopher Sjöwall, Sofia Nyström, Esaki M. Shankar, Marie Larsson (2026) HIV-1 derived oligonucleotides induce a type I IFN/STING dependent immune suppression reversible by targeting IFNARI PLoS Pathogens, Vol. 22, Article e1013868 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Sarah Reid, Johanna K. Sandling, Pascal Pucholt, Ahmed Sayadi, Martina Frodlund, Karoline Lerang, Iva Gunnarsson, Andreas Jonsen, Ann-christine Syvanen, Oyvind Molberg, Solbritt Rantapaa-dahlqvist, Anna Rudin, Christopher Sjöwall, Elisabet Svenungsson, Anders A. Bengtsson, Lars Ronnblom, Dag Leonard (2026) Genetic risk factors and clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus: Large-scale analysis of genetic predisposition and disease subtypes Journal of Internal Medicine, Vol. 299, p. 95-108 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2025

Ahmed Sayadi, Johanna K. Sandling, Maija-Leena Eloranta, Andreas Jonsen, Iva Gunnarsson, Solbritt Rantapaa-Dahlqvist, Christopher Sjöwall, Anders A. Bengtsson, Elisabet Svenungsson, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Dag Leonard, Lars Ronnblom (2025) Rare and common single nucleotide variants in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus Science and Medicine, Vol. 12, Article e001436 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Agnes Torell, Kerstin Andersson, Iva Gunnarsson, Elisabet Svenungsson, Agneta Zickert, Maria Majczuk Sennstrom, Estelle Trysberg, Anders A. Bengtsson, Andreas Jonsen, Helena Strevens, Christopher Sjöwall, Muna Atallah Saleh, Sofia Pihl, Dag Leonard, Lars Ronnblom, Tansim Akhter, Johan Bylund, Bo Jacobsson, Anna Rudin, Marit Stockfelt, Anna-Carin Lundell (2025) Proteomic analysis reveals angiogenesis-related plasma proteins associated with pre-eclampsia in SLE Lupus Science and Medicine, Vol. 12, Article e001819 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Jesper Karlsson, Helena Enocsson, Hanna Duan, Suhana Ahmad, Daniel Appelgren, Alf Kastbom, Lina Wirestam, Christopher Sjöwall, Jonas Wetterö (2025) Autoantibodies against pentraxin-3 in systemic lupus erythematosus: mapping of reactivity to linear epitopes and associations with disease variables Autoimmunity, Vol. 58, Article 2579832 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Publications in PubMed and ORCiD

About me

CV

Christopher Sjöwall, associate Professor.Christopher Sjöwall, Senior Associate Professor. Photo credit Ulrik Svedin

Program teaching

  • Medical programme
  • Biomedical Laboratory Science Programme
  • Doctoral studies

Network

  • Member of the Swedish SLE network (since 2010)
  • Chairman of Working group that compose Guidelines for the medical treatment of SLE with an annual update on behalf of the Swedish Society for Rheumatology (since 2018)
  • Member of Employment board, Medical Faculty LiU (since 2021)

Organisation

Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV)

What characterizes the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) is the wide breadth of research and education. BKV is one of the largest departments at LiU with affiliation mainly to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Teaser image for the division II at BKV.

Division of Inflammation and Infection (II)

The Division of Inflammation and Infection (II) includes clinical subject areas such as Immunology, Rheumatology, Pathology and Microbiology.

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