NEWS: Gene Marker May Improve Lupus Care

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Gene Marker May Improve Lupus Care

-- Preidt

THURSDAY, May 5 (HealthDay News) -- Tests that spot heightened

expression of a specific group of genes could improve the treatment of

lupus patients, according to a new report.

The finding also provides important new insight into the role that

interferon -- a protein key to the immune response -- plays in the

progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

SLE, which is characterized by the production of autoantibodies

throughout the body, affects women more than men and can cause problems

ranging from skin rash and joint pain to kidney failure and stroke, the

researchers said.

Scientists, including those at the Kirkland Center for Lupus

Research in New York City, focused on the activation of a particular

immune response called the interferon pathway. This pathway is more

active among lupus patients with the most serious disease.

The researchers knew that activation of the type I interferon pathway

also triggers abnormally high expression of the " interferon-inducible "

family of genes (IFIGs).

The researchers collected blood samples from 77 lupus patients; 22

people with either rheumatoid arthritis or another immune disorder,

autoimmune uveitis; and 28 healthy people. They then checked the blood

samples for levels of IFIG expression.

Overall, lupus patients scored higher than the other participants for

activation of the type I interferon pathway. Among those with lupus,

the highest scores were associated with increased disease severity and

activity and a greater likelihood of kidney disease.

" Our data have defined a subgroup of SLE patients who have more severe

disease, with frequent kidney involvement, and more active disease, as

measured by complement activation, suggesting that determination of

IFIG expression may prove a useful approach to selection of patients

for clinical studies, " study co-author Dr. Kyriakos A. Kirou said in a

prepared statement.

The marker might someday help doctors spot lupus patients at high risk

for severe disease, and treat them appropriately. It may also help

researchers better understand interferon's role in the illness, Kirou

said.

" Our next challenge will be to plan clinical studies to validate the

measurement of IFIG as a biomarker for active lupus, " Kirou said.

The study appears in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin

Diseases has more about lupus.

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2005/05/05/

hscout525502.html