Recently Discovered Genetic Patterns May Predict Lupus Activity

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Recently Discovered Genetic Patterns May Predict Lupus Activity

Newswise — Gene signatures, or patterns, can yield important

information about the severity and frequency of systemic lupus

erythematosus activity, according to research presented this week at

the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San

Diego.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, is a chronic disease that

causes inflammation of the joints, skin rashes, low blood counts,

kidney disease, or inflammation around the heart and lungs. It

affects one in every 2,000 people in the U.S., and 90% of those

affected are women.

Because patients with lupus can experience a broad range of symptoms,

and because predicting severity and risk to various organs based on

current technology is so difficult, this research is particularly

encouraging.

Researchers used gene expression microarrays – a method of

determining whether key genes are turned on or off – to test blood

samples of 81 patients with lupus and 41 healthy control individuals.

The tests were intended to find blood markers of SLE disease

activity, and correlate them with several disease activity scores

commonly used by clinicians in an attempt to monitor the course of

this difficult disease.

The study found 137 RNA transcripts that appeared at altered levels

in the blood of patients experiencing active lupus, and thus may be

indicators of disease activity. Further organization of these

transcripts revealed two key groups: genes induced by interferon-

alpha, which is a natural cancer and infection fighter; and a

distinct immunoglobulin, or antibody, group.

When examining these two key groups, or signatures, separately,

researchers found that the immunoglobulin signature occurred more

often in African-American patients and correlated with other lupus

indicators. The appearance of the interferon-alpha signature seemed

to be a better predictor of future disease activity than of current

activity.

Going one step further, researchers were able to identify 10 genes

which together were the best indicators of current disease activity.

That set included a representative gene from each of the two

signatures. These ten genes demonstrated a much higher correlation

with current disease activity than any single gene from the group;

and importantly, were a better predictor of future activity than any

tool currently available.

“A key finding is that the combination of gene signatures is a much

better indicator of disease activity than any one signature alone.

Further study and validation of these signatures may lead to new,

targeted therapies for lupus.” said C Baechler, PhD, a

researcher with the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where the

study was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Behrens. “The

ability to measure these signatures with a simple blood test could

make them a useful tool in the clinic, allowing doctors to identify

patients at risk for severe disease and shape their treatment plans

accordingly.”

The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization

for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication

to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related

rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on the

ACR's annual meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org/annual.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/515926/