A cluster of type II interferon-regulated genes associates with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Upregulation of interferon-regulated genes (IRGs), denoted IFN signature, in peripheral blood has been used as an indirect measure of IFN pathway activation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, it has not been determined, which IFN signatures that optimally reflect clinical disease activity. In this study, we determined an IFN signature based on the expression of 128 IRGs in whole blood from 34 SLE patients in a cross-sectional (CS) study, 11 with active lupus nephritis followed longitudinally (LS) and 15 healthy controls.

Human herpesvirus infections and circulating microvesicles expressing galectin-3 binding protein in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Circulating microvesicles (MVs) expressing the type 1 interferon-inducible protein galectin-3 binding protein (G3BP) are potentially major sources of autoantigens in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we explore if plasma concentrations of G3BP-expressing MVs correlate with signs of various active human herpesvirus (HHV) infections in SLE patients, suggesting a virus-induced mechanism for the generation of these vesicles.

Methods: In 49 SLE patients, the plasma levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp52, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) early antigen diffuse (EA/D), and HHV6 p41 were measured by ELISAs and used as humoral markers of ongoing/recently active viral infection.

Galectin-3-binding protein is a novel predictor of venous thromboembolism in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Venous (VTE) and arterial (AT) thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are poorly explained and difficult to predict. Leptin and tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) have been linked to subclinical atherosclerosis and galectin-3-binding protein (G3BP) to type I interferon activation and a pro-thrombotic environment. Thus, we explore serum G3BP, interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), soluble CD163 (sCD163), TWEAK and leptin as predictors of VTE and AT, damage accrual, and all-cause mortality during follow-up in a Swedish SLE cohort.

Stimulation of Mononuclear Cells Through Toll-Like Receptor 9 Induces Release of Microvesicles Expressing Double-Stranded DNA and Galectin 3-Binding Protein in an Interferon-α-Dependent Manner.

Microvesicles (MVs) expressing the type 1 interferon (IFN)-inducible protein galectin-3 binding protein (G3BP) may play a pathogenic role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Co-expression of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) on such MVs may render them immunogenic and targets for anti-dsDNA antibodies. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying generation of this MV population.

Erythrocytes restrict microvesicle-induced production of reactive oxygen species by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Microvesicles (MVs) are extracellular vesicles released by several cell types upon activation or apoptosis. MVs have the potential to activate complement, which has been suggested to mediate their clearance. However, it is not clear how complement-opsonized MVs are prevented from activating circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and potential damage of endothelium and other bystander cells as consequence.

Immune responses to an early lytic cytomegalovirus antigen in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: T-cell responses, cytokine secretions and antibody status.

We investigated immune responses to a lytic cytomegalovirus antigen (CMVpp52), and to a lytic human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigen (HHV6p41), in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy controls (HCs), in order to clarify if the previously established impaired responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in SLE patients is a general defect in their responses against (all) HHVs. Multiplex Luminex technology results showed a normal induction of five quantified cytokines (interferon γ, interleukin(IL)12, IL17, IL10, and tumor necrosis factor α) in SLE patients compared to HCs upon stimulation with CMVpp52 and HHV6p41. However, flow cytometric results showed a reduced upregulation of the activation marker CD69 on T-cells from SLE patients (n = 17) compared to HCs (n = 17) upon stimulation with CMVpp52, indicating limited or defective CMVpp52-specific T-cells and/or poor antigen-presentation in SLE patients, and thereby possibly decreased control of the CMV infection.

A review of studies of the proteomes of circulating microparticles: key roles for galectin-3-binding protein-expressing microparticles in vascular diseases and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Subcellular microvesicles (MVs) have attracted increasing interest during the past decades. While initially considered as inert cellular debris, several important roles for MVs in physiological homeostasis, cancer, cardiovascular, and autoimmune diseases have been uncovered. Although still poorly understood, MVs are involved in trafficking of information from cell-to-cell, and are implicated in the regulation of immunity, thrombosis, and coagulation.

"Kill" the messenger: Targeting of cell-derived microparticles in lupus nephritis.

Immune complex (IC) deposition in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is a key early pathogenic event in lupus nephritis (LN). The clarification of the mechanisms behind IC deposition will enable targeted therapy in the future. Circulating cell-derived microparticles (MPs) have been proposed as major sources of extracellular autoantigens and ICs and triggers of autoimmunity in LN.

Random blood glucose may be used to assess long-term glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a rural African clinical setting.

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of random blood glucose (RBG) on good glycaemic control among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in a rural African setting.

Methods: Cross-sectional study at St. Francis' Hospital in eastern Zambia.