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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

I Gunnarsson, A. Lindholm, M. Petkovic, S. Brolin, O. Borjesson, I Al Azzawi, Rama Andraos, Christopher Sjöwall, K. Palmblad, A. Horne, Justus Rofors, Maria Weiner, S. Ohlsson, A. Antovic, Annette Bruchfeld (2026) Avacopan in a compassionate use programme for severe anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in Sweden Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03009742.2026.2640767
Ahmed Sayadi, Maija-Leena Eloranta, Nina Oparina, Marcus Wallgren, Elisabeth Skoglund, Martina Frodlund, Christopher Sjöwall, Lars Ronnblom, Dag Leonard (2026) Single-cell RNA-seq reveals a persistent interferon signature in immune cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients with high versus low polygenic risk scores despite antimalarial treatment Journal of Autoimmunity, Vol. 161, Article 103575 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2026.103575
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, Fariba Roshanzamir, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Bylund, Bo Jacobsson, Anna Rudin, Anna-Carin Lundell, Marit Stockfelt (2026) Comparison of BAFF and type I IFN activity in blood and placenta in SLE and healthy pregnancies Lupus Science and Medicine, Vol. 13, Article e002020 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2026-002020
Sabrina Hundal, Julian Cappelli, Christopher Sjöwall, Mohamed Osman, Zahi Touma, Ioannis Parodis, Stephanie R. Goldberg, Elena Netchiporouk (2026) Cost-Effectiveness of Early vs Delayed Belimumab Treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus JAMA Network Open, Vol. 9, Article e2560167 (Article in journal) https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.60167
Ioannis Parodis, Dionysis Nikolopoulos, André Brylid, Olof Hultgren, Marta E. Alarcon-Riquelme, Christopher Sjöwall (2026) Old and new autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, Vol. 22, p. 19-29 (Article, review/survey) https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1744666X.2026.2625964

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.