Project description:The goal of this study is to define the molecular signatures of SLE patients at baseline in BMS IM101042 trial. IM101042 (NCT00119678) is a phase IIb, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of abatacept vs placebo on a background of oral glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus and the prevention of subsequent lupus flares, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Project description:Skin inflammaton heralds systemic disease in juvenile myositis (JM), yet we lack an understanding of pathogenic mechanisms driving skin inflammation in JM. The goal of this study is to define cutaneous gene expression signatures in JM and identify key genes and pathways that differentiate skin disease in JM from childhood-onset SLE (cSLE).
Project description:The goal of these studies is to define the molecular signatures of TH1-induced EAE and TH17-induced EAE through adoptive transfer. We will also define the role of IL-17 signaling in the pathology by comparing cells derived from wild type mice to those derived from mice lacking Act1, a key adaptor required for IL-17 dependent signaling. Brains and spinal cords from animals at peak of disease will be profiled.
Project description:Objectives <br> Type 1 interferons (IFN-I) are implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but most studies have only reported the effect of IFN-I on mixed cell populations. We aimed to define modules of IFN-I associated genes in purified leukocyte populations and use these as a basis for a detailed comparative analysis. <br>Methods<br>CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, monocytes and neutrophils were purified from patients with SLE, other immune-mediated diseases and healthy volunteers (HV)and gene expression determined by microarray. Modules of IFN-I associated genes were defined using weighted gene coexpression network analysis. The composition and expression of these modules was analysed.<br>Results<br>1,150 of 1,288 IFN-I associated genes were specific to myeloid subsets, compared with 11 genes unique to T-cells. IFN-I genes were more highly expressed in myeloid subsets compared to T-cells. A subset of neutrophil samples from HV and conditions not classically associated with IFN-I signatures displayed increased IFN-I gene expression, whereas upregulation of IFN-I associated genes in T-cells was restricted to SLE.<br>Conclusions<br>Given the broad upregulation of IFN-I genes in neutrophils including in some HV, investigators reporting IFN-I signatures on the basis of whole blood samples should be cautious about interpreting this as evidence of bona fide IFN-I mediated pathology. Instead, specific upregulation of IFN-I associated genes in T-cells may be a useful biomarker and a further mechanism by which elevated IFN-I contributes to autoimmunity in SLE.
Project description:This study used proteomic, biomechanical, and functional analyses to further define neutrophil heterogeneity in the context of SLE. Mass spectrometry proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses were performed in healthy control normal density neutrophils (NDNs), SLE NDNs and in autologous SLE LDGs. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic differences were detected when comparing control to SLE neutrophils and when comparing SLE NDNs to SLE LDGs.
Project description:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are 90% women and over three times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than women in the general population. Chest pain with no obstructive cardiac disease is associated with coronary microvascular disease (CMD), where narrowing of the small blood vessels can lead to ischemia, and frequently reported by SLE patients. Using whole blood RNA samples, we asked whether gene signatures discriminate SLE patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) on cardiac MRI (n=4) from those without (n=7) and whether any signaling pathway is linked to the underlying pathobiology of SLE CMD. RNA-seq analysis revealed 143 differentially expressed (DE) genes between the SLE and healthy control (HC) groups, with virus defense and interferon (IFN) signaling being the key pathways identified as enriched in SLE as expected. We next conducted a comparative analysis of genes differentially expressed in SLE-CMD and SLE-non-CMD relative to HC samples. Our analysis highlighted differences in IFN signaling, RNA sensing and ADP-ribosylation pathways between SLE-CMD and SLE-non-CMD. This is the first study to investigate possible gene signatures associating with CMD in SLE, and our data strongly suggests that distinct molecular mechanisms underly vascular changes in CMD and non-CMD involvement in SLE.
Project description:The goal of this study is to define the molecular signatures of prednisolone in vivo. IM124001 (NCT03196557) is an experimental medicine study to assess the pharmacodynamics following administration of multiple doses of prednisolone to healthy male subjects, sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Project description:We have performed gene expression microarry analysis to profile molecular alterations in normal human oral keratinocytes that are induced by EtOH and/or nicotine. Our goal is to examine molecular signatures that are dysregulated by EtOH or nicotine and define the effects of co-use of alcohol and nicotine on normal oral epithelial cells and potentially on carcinogenesis.
Project description:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that displays a significant gender difference in terms of incidence and severity. However, the underlying mechanisms accounting for sexual dimorphism remain unclear. To reveal the heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of SLE between male and female patients. PBMC were collected from 15 patients with SLE (7 males, 8 females) and 15 age-matched healthy controls (7 males, 8 females) for proteomic analysis. Enrichment analysis of proteomic data revealed that type I interferon signaling and neutrophil activation networks mapped to both male and female SLE, while male SLE has a higher level of neutrophil activation compared with female SLE. Our findings define gender heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of SLE and may facilitate the development of gender-specific treatments.