Serum Biomarkers of Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Cardiac Function in Facilitating Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Anti-SSA/Ro-Associated Cardiac Neonatal Lupus.

Background: Cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (cardiac NL) include congenital heart block and cardiomyopathy. Several candidate biomarkers were evaluated in cases at risk for cardiac NL on the basis of potential roles in inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction: C-reactive protein (CRP); NT-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); troponin I; matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2; urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA); urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR); plasminogen; and vitamin D.

Objectives: Identification of maternal and fetal biomarkers associated with development and morbidity of cardiac NL should provide clues to pathogenesis with translational implications for management.

Dysregulation of the microvasculature in nonlesional non-sun-exposed skin of patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective: Membrane endothelial protein C receptor (mEPCR) is highly expressed in peritubular capillaries of kidneys from patients with active and poorly responsive lupus nephritis (LN). We investigated the hypothesis that changes in the microvasculature are widespread with extension to the dermal vasculature.

Methods: Skin biopsies from uninvolved skin (buttocks) were performed in 27 patients with LN and 5 healthy controls.

Association of plasma soluble E-selectin and adiponectin with carotid plaque in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with premature atherosclerosis but the mechanisms underlying this association are not understood. The role of endothelial dysfunction is hypothesized.

Methods: In predominantly non-Caucasian patients with SLE (N=119) and controls (N=71), carotid ultrasonography was performed and circulating endothelial cells (CECs), soluble endothelial protein C receptor and gene polymorphism at A6936G, soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), and adiponectin were assessed.

Expression of endothelial protein C receptor in cortical peritubular capillaries associates with a poor clinical response in lupus nephritis.

Objective: To study the membrane expression of endothelial protein C receptor (mEPCR) in the renal microvasculature in lupus nephritis (LN) as a potential marker of injury and/or prognostic indicator for response to therapy.

Methods: mEPCR expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in normal kidney and in 59 biopsies from 49 patients with LN. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 1 year.

Current therapies for lupus nephritis in an ethnically heterogeneous cohort.

Objective: To evaluate responses to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) in lupus nephritis in a multiethnic population.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that underwent kidney biopsy at New York University Medical Center. Patients with followup of at least 6 months were included.

Serum type I interferon activity is dependent on maternal diagnosis in anti-SSA/Ro-positive mothers of children with neonatal lupus.

Objective: The type I interferon (IFN) pathway is activated in many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and high serum levels of IFN are associated with anti-SSA/Ro autoantibodies. To investigate the clinical features associated with type I IFN production in vivo, we compared serum IFN activity in individuals with anti-SSA/Ro antibodies who were asymptomatic with that in individuals with clinical manifestations of SLE or Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: Antibody-positive sera from 84 mothers of children with manifestations of neonatal lupus were studied for type I IFN activity, using a functional reporter cell assay.

Neonatal lupus syndromes.

Neonatal lupus has become an important model of passively acquired autoimmunity since the seminal observation in the late 1970s that sera from nearly all mothers of children with isolated congenital heart block (CHB) contain specific autoantibodies.