The A/T mutation in exon 2 of theDNASE1 gene is not present in Tunisian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or in healthy subjects

Objective. To investigate the expression and clinical significance of trans-membrane MerTK (mMer) on circulating CD14+ monocytes/macrophages and soluble MerTK (sMer) levels in plasma in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Method. 108 SLE patients and 42 healthy controls were recruited in this study. The expression of mMer on the surfaces of CD14+ monocytes/macrophages was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). The sMer levels were measured by ELISA. Real-time quantitative PCR was applied to evaluate the mRNA levels of MerTK and ADAM17.Results. Both mMer expression on CD14+ monocytes/macrophages and sMer levels in plasma significantly increased in SLE patients compared to healthy subjects. The frequency of anti-inflammatory MerTK expressing CD14+CD16+ monocytes decreased in SLE. mMer expression was positively correlated with CD163 expression on CD14+ cells. Both the mMer expression on CD14+ monocytes/macrophages and sMer levels in plasma were positively correlated with SLEDAI. Furthermore, more elevated mMer and sMer levels were found in patients with higher SLEDAI, presence of anti-SSA, anti-Sm autoantibodies, and lupus nephritis.Conclusion. Both mMer and sMer levels significantly increased in SLE and positively correlated with disease activity and severity. The upregulation of MerTK expression may serve as a biomarker of the disease activity and severity of SLE.

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Hepatitis A virus vaccination in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203318819827 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 234-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S Mertoglu ◽

S Sahin ◽

O F Beser ◽

A Adrovic ◽

K Barut ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Hepatitis A ◽

Hepatitis A Virus ◽

Activity Index ◽

Childhood Onset ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objectives: Vaccination of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with non-live vaccines may decrease vaccine-preventable infections and mortalities. In the present study, we aimed to compare the immunogenicity and safety of inactivated hepatitis A vaccination in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 30 childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and 39 healthy participants who were seronegative for hepatitis A received two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine in a 0- and 6-month schedule. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) IgG antibodies were measured before vaccination and 7 months after the vaccination. Results: Although anti-HAV IgG antibody titers after vaccination were found to be somewhat lower in children with systemic lupus erythematosus than that of the healthy subjects ( p < 0.05), the difference in seroconversion rate was insignificant between childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients ( n = 24/30, 80%) and healthy controls ( n = 33/39, 84.6%). There was no increase in median Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2K scores and anti-ds DNA levels after the vaccination procedure. Seroconversion rates in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients were not affected by medication, high disease activity (SLEDAI-2K >6) and anti-ds DNA positivity. None of the patients experienced any flare or adverse reaction throughout the study. Conclusions: According to these results, we conclude that inactivated hepatitis A vaccine is safe and well tolerated in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients, with no adverse events or increase in activity. Immunogenicity to the hepatitis A vaccine was adequate, with a seropositivity rate of 80%.

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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Contain Significantly Less IgM against Mono-Methylated Lysine than Healthy Subjects

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0068520 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. e68520 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sha Guo ◽

Ying Liu ◽

Younan Ma ◽

Qing Zhao ◽

Liping Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Methylated Lysine

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Genetic Factors Contributing to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Tunisian Patients

Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology ◽

10.4172/2155-9899.1000129 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 03 (04) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hajer Fourati

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Tunisian Patients

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Assessing the expression of immunosuppressive cytokines in the newly diagnosed systemic lupus Erythematosus patients: a focus on B cells

BMC Immunology ◽

10.1186/s12865-020-00388-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mitra Abbasifard ◽

Zahra Kamiab ◽

Mohammad Hasani ◽

Amir Rahnama ◽

Pooya Saeed-Askari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

B Cells ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Moderate Disease ◽

Immunosuppressive Cytokines

Abstract Background The immunosuppressive effects of regulatory B-cells (Bregs) and their immunosuppressive cytokines on immune responses in autoimmune disorders, mainly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have been recently established. Therefore, the purpose of this article has been the exploration of the expressions of cytokines produced by B cells in newly diagnosed SLE patients. Results The findings demonstrated that the gene expression of IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35, PD-L1, and FasL was significantly up-regulated in SLE patients compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Additionally, the results revealed that serum levels of IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35, PD-L1 were remarkably increased in patients with SLE compared to healthy subjects (P < 0.0001). However, serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β decreased significantly with increasing SLEDAI score in studied patients (P < 0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-10 and TGF-β, might inhibit immune responses and autoreactive immune cells in a compensatory manner in SLE patients with mild to moderate disease activity.

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