Differential distribution of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene variants and its expression in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disorder that displays an important genetic background. Vitamin D (VD ) through its receptor (VDR) plays an important immunomodulatory role in autoimmune misbalance, being capable of modulating immune responses. Genetic alterations in VDR gene may contribute to an altered risk in SLE development and clinical manifestations.

Use of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Older Adults: Scientific Evidence and Practical Aspects.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an increasingly prevalent condition that has a significant impact on health systems worldwide, particularly in older people. It is estimated that 30% of people aged > 65 years fulfil the diagnostic criteria for DM, with 90% having type 2 DM (T2DM). Generally, specific guidelines for the treatment of T2DM in older people address in a very limited manner the use of more recent therapies, such as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), which have important benefits for older people, such as a low risk of hypoglycemia, reduction of cardiovascular and renal risk, and an insulin-independent mechanism, allowing its use in disease of any duration.

Differential expression of the inflammasome complex genes in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder involving heterogeneous clinical manifestations and numerous susceptibility genes. Several findings evidence the critical role of inflammasomes in the predisposition to autoimmune diseases and in SLE. We investigated whether inflammasome polymorphins could affect susceptibility to develop and/or severity SLE.

T-cell specific upregulation of Sema4A as risk factor for autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of genetic variants on expression of sema4A protein and its relation to autoimmunity development in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. A total of 541 SLE patients, 390 RA patients and 607 healthy individuals were genotyped. We also assessed mRNA expression from whole blood cells and the in vitro protein production from resting and activated T lymphocytes as well as mature dendritic cells from healthy individuals stratified according to their genotypes for SLE/RA associated variants.

Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and expression profile in rheumatoid arthritis Brazilian patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and important joint commitment, being the most common systemic autoimmune disease worldwide. RA displays important genetic background with a variety of genes contributing to the immune balance breakdown. Recent studies have demonstrated that vitamin D, through its receptor (VDR), is able to regulate the immune balance and suppress the autoimmunity process, being a potential target in autoimmune diseases.