Immune memory and activation markers in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of tolerance to self-antigens, immune complex deposition, tissue inflammation and destruction. SLE manifestations, prevalence and severity vary among different populations and ethnicities. Even today, the pathogenesis of SLE remains unclear. This complex autoimmune disease is more common in Asians (46.7/100000) than in Caucasians (20.7/100000). Female preponderance in SLE, especially during childbearing years is of an overall female: male ratio of about 9:1. With advances in SLE management via various therapeutic agents, the survival rate of the SLE population has increased compared to those of early days. But complications arising from current available treatment and therapy have propagated as they usually involve the use of toxic immunosuppressive drugs. More patients are getting serious and lethal infections due to the use of these not patient-specific drugs. A previous study of samples from populations of mainly European ancestry found that transcriptional profiling of purified CD8+ T lymphocytes identifies two distinct prognostic subgroups in SLE, termed v8.1 and v8.2. It was found that more subjects in group v8.1 have shorter time to first flare, increased flare rate, and had increased expression of IL7R and Bcl2. These subgroups raise the prospect of individualized therapy and suggest new potential therapeutic targets in SLE. The purpose of my study was to investigate these and other relevant biomarkers in Asian lupus patients by flow cytometry to potentially allow individualized therapy to reduce the disease severe manifestations.

Author dc:creator

• LEW FEI CHUIN

• Immune memory, markers, systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE