A T cell gene expression panel for the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clin Immunol. 2014 Feb;150(2):192-200. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2013.12.002. Epub 2013 Dec 16.

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) remains a challenging disease to diagnose and follow, as no reliable biomarkers are known to date. We designed a gene expression panel with 40 genes known to play a role in SLE pathogenesis. We found that the combined expression of these genes in SLE T cells can accurately differentiate SLE from healthy individuals and patients with other autoimmune diseases. The accuracy of the test increased further (83%) when only three out of the initial genes (OAS2, CD70 and IL10) were used. A T cell score, calculated from the combined expression levels of these genes, correlated positively with various SLE activity markers in a cross-sectional cohort and in a few patients that were followed prospectively. These data showcase the usefulness of measuring mRNA levels of key molecules in diagnosing and following patients with SLE.

Keywords: Biomarkers; CD70; Diagnostic; Flare; IL10; OAS2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / genetics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / genetics
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Biomarkers
  • CD27 Ligand / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnosis
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / genetics*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CD27 Ligand
  • Interleukin-10
  • 2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase