Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masahiro Ayano, Takahiko Horiuchi
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease where complement is crucial in its pathogenesis. Complement levels in blood and histological tests are used for SLE management, and the evaluation of complement status is useful for diagnosis, disease activity assessment, treatment response prediction, and prognosis. Novel complement biomarkers are more sensitive than traditional markers and have wider application. This review summarizes the utility of complement testing in SLE management over the last decade.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shunxiang Li, Huihua Ding, Ziheng Qi, Jing Yang, Jingyi Huang, Lin Huang, Mengji Zhang, Yuanjia Tang, Nan Shen, Kun Qian, Qiang Guo, Jingjing Wan
Summary: Serum metabolic fingerprints can be used for disease diagnosis and biomarker discovery. By analyzing the serum metabolic fingerprints of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy controls, early diagnosis and precision medicine for SLE can be achieved. This study identified the unique metabolic pattern of SLE patients and screened out a panel of metabolic biomarkers.
Article
Immunology
Benoit Brilland, Maxime Bach-Bunner, Christopher Nunes Gomes, Vincent Larochette, Etienne Foucher, Marc Plaisance, Patrick Saulnier, Nathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau, Pascale Ghillani, Cristina Belizna, Yves Delneste, Jean-Francois Augusto, Pascale Jeannin
Summary: The study found that IL-26 levels were significantly higher in SLE patients compared to controls, and were also significantly higher in patients with active disease compared to those with inactive disease. IL-26 levels correlated positively with SLEDAI score and uPCR. Patients with high IL-26 levels showed higher disease activity markers and complement consumption, indicating IL-26 may be a useful biomarker for active disease identification in SLE patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yun-chuan Chen, Yung-chieh Huang, Jun-peng Chen, Ming-chin Tsai Mc, Lin-shien Fu
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of 2-year trajectories of C3 variability in predicting clinical remission and SCS use in pediatric patients with pSLE. The results showed that different C3 trajectories were associated with different clinical outcome groups, with patients in trajectory 1 at a higher risk for persistent SCS use. Therefore, early initiation of immunosuppressants and biological agents may be considered for these children.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Hudan Pan, Jingrong Wang, Yong Liang, Canjian Wang, Ruimin Tian, Hua Ye, Xiao Zhang, Yuanhao Wu, Miao Shao, Ruijun Zhang, Yao Xiao, Zhi Li, Guangfeng Zhang, Hua Zhou, Yilin Wang, Xiaoshuang Wang, Zhanguo Li, Wei Liu, Liang Liu
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with unknown pathogenesis and heterogeneous clinical manifestations. By conducting glycomic analyses, we identified two N-glycans on serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) as excellent diagnostic biomarkers for SLE, with specificity and suitability for all stages of the disease. These findings are important for the early and precise diagnosis of SLE and provide insights into the pathogenic factors of the disease.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nayra Merino de Paz, Maria Garcia-Gonzalez, Fuensanta Gomez-Bernal, Juan C. Quevedo-Abeledo, Antonia de Vera-Gonzalez, Raquel Lopez-Mejias, Pedro Abreu-Gonzalez, Candelaria Martin-Gonzalez, Miguel A. Gonzalez-Gay, Ivan Ferraz-Amaro
Summary: Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a marker of oxidative stress and antioxidant status. This study found that cumulative musculoskeletal and skin damage in SLE patients is associated with higher serum levels of MDA. In addition, activation of the complement system is also related to higher circulating MDA levels.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bingxue Huang, Dan Feng, Xiaoling Niu, Wenyan Huang, Sheng Hao
Summary: It is crucial to diagnose and evaluate childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) early and accurately. Serum RGC-32 has been found to be significantly elevated in children with SLE, and it is associated with disease activity and inflammation. RGC-32 may serve as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and evaluation of SLE.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jessica S. Kleer, Pascal A. Rabatscher, Jessica Weiss, Joel Leonardi, Severin B. Vogt, Andrea Kieninger-Grafitsch, Carlo Chizzolini, Uyen Huynh-Do, Camillo Ribi, Marten Trendelenburg
Summary: The study found that epitope-specific anti-C1q in SLE patients is associated with specific disease manifestations, providing more diagnostic value than conventional anti-C1q.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Yuri Hiramatsu, Kentaro Isoda, Takuya Kotani, Eri Nakamura, Yumiko Wada, Youhei Fujiki, Shigeki Makino, Daisuke Fujita, Tohru Takeuchi
Summary: This study found that patients with a history of lupus nephritis and low C3 levels before pregnancy are more likely to experience preterm birth, and the more risk factors present, the higher the rate of preterm birth. Management focusing on pre-pregnancy serum complement levels is crucial, especially for patients with a history of LN.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Maria Garcia-Gonzalez, Fuensanta Gomez-Bernal, Juan C. C. Quevedo-Abeledo, Yolanda Fernandez-Cladera, Agustin F. Gonzalez-Rivero, Antonia de Vera-Gonzalez, Inigo de la Rua-figueroa, Raquel Lopez-Mejias, Federico Diaz-Gonzalez, Miguel A. Gonzalez-Gay, Ivan Ferraz-Amaro
Summary: This study assessed the function of the three complement pathways in SLE patients and found that AL and LE pathways had lower functional values compared to the CL pathway. Clinical activity was not related to functional values of the C pathways, but increased DNA binding was negatively associated. Disease damage was positively correlated with C pathways and components. Anti-ribosomes and anti-nucleosomes antibodies showed a higher relationship with C activation, mainly through the LE and CL pathways. IgG anti-beta 2GP antibodies were most closely related to C activation, predominantly involving the AL pathway.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yevgeniya Gartshteyn, Adam Mor, Daichi Shimbo, Leila Khalili, Teja Kapoor, Laura Geraldino-Pardilla, Roberta V. Alexander, John Conklin, Thierry Dervieux, Anca D. Askanase
Summary: Elevated levels of PC4d are associated with arterial events in SLE patients, independent of antiphospholipid status, smoking, and prednisone use. PC4d levels are correlated with abnormalities in platelet function and may serve as a mechanistic marker for vascular disease in SLE.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Fengping Liu, Tianli Ren, Xiaodi Li, Qixiao Zhai, Xifeng Xu, Nan Zhang, Peng Jiang, Yaofang Niu, Longxian Lv, GuoXun Shi, Ninghan Feng
Summary: The microbiome alterations in the gut and oral cavity are associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Research on 35 SLE patients revealed reduced bacterial richness and diversity in feces, and increased bacterial diversity in saliva. These findings suggest that different body niches in SLE patients have distinct bacterial profiles that may play a role in the disease development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria Garcia-Gonzalez, Fuensanta Gomez-Bernal, Juan C. Quevedo-Abeledo, Yolanda Fernandez-Cladera, Agustin F. Gonzalez-Rivero, Raquel Lopez-Mejias, Federico Diaz-Gonzalez, Miguel a. Gonzalez-Gay, Ivan Ferraz-Amaro
Summary: This study analyzed the relationship between the complement (C) system and cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study found that there is an interconnected relationship between the C system and CEC in patients with SLE.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Caroline Carle, Francoise Fortenfant, Marie Tauber, Emilie Tournier, Carle Paul, Chloe Bost, Yves Renaudineau
Summary: The lupus band test is debated for its ability to distinguish between cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and its association with antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and complement reduction. Certain clinical, histopathologic, and serological parameters can effectively differentiate lupus from other skin disorders and distinguish between SLE and CLE.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Aleida Susana Castellanos Gutierrez, Francesc Figueras, Diana M. Morales-Prieto, Ekkehard Schleussner, Gerard Espinosa, Nuria Banos
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that mainly affects women of childbearing age. During pregnancy, SLE is associated with a higher risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Several studies have suggested that placental dysfunction may play a crucial role in this association.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Rheumatology
Jean W. Liew, Elizabeth R. Graef, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Alfred Hyoungju Kim
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Rheumatology
Manuel Francisco Ugarte-Gil, Maximilian F. Konig, Peter Korsten, Francis Berenbaum, Alfred Hyoungju Kim, Jeffrey A. Sparks
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Rheumatology
Ali Duarte-Garcia, Elizabeth R. Graef, Jean W. Liew, Maximilian F. Konig, Alfred Hyoungju Kim, Jeffrey A. Sparks
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Anuraag Jena, Shubhra Mishra, Parakkal Deepak, Praveen Kumar-, Aman Sharma, Yusuf Patel, Nicholas A. Kennedy, Alfred H. J. Kim, Vishal Sharma, Shaji Sebastian
Summary: The treatment for COVID-19 often involves immune-modulating drugs, which are also used in immune mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). This systematic review examines the seroconversion after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with IMIDs and the impact of different drugs on seroconversion rates. The findings suggest that patients with IMIDs have lower seroconversion rates, and certain therapies have no impact on seroconversion rates while others result in poorer responses.
AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Sara R. R. Kellahan, Xinliang Huang, Daphne Lew, Hong Xian, Seth Eisen, Alfred H. J. Kim
Summary: This study examined the longitudinal course of depressed affect among outpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the relationship between SLE disease activity and depressed affect. The majority of patients had persistent depressed affect or major depression over a period of up to 4 years, and there was no consistent relationship between depressed affect and SLE disease activity.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Alfred H. J. Kim, Mary C. Nakamura
JAMA INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Rheumatology
Richard Conway, Alyssa A. Grimshaw, Maximilian F. Konig, Michael Putman, Ali Duarte-Garcia, Leslie Yingzhijie Tseng, Diego M. Cabrera, Yu Pei Eugenia Chock, Huseyin Berk Degirmenci, Eimear Duff, Bugra Han Egeli, Elizabeth R. Graef, Akash Gupta, Patricia Harkins, Bimba F. Hoyer, Arundathi Jayatilleke, Shangyi Jin, Christopher Kasia, Aneka Khilnani, Adam Kilian, Alfred H. J. Kim, Chung Mun Alice Lin, Candice Low, Laurie Proulx, Sebastian E. Sattui, Namrata Singh, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Herman Tam, Manuel F. Ugarte-Gil, Natasha Ung, Kaicheng Wang, Leanna M. Wise, Ziyi Yang, Kristen J. Young, Jean W. Liew, Rebecca Grainger, Zachary S. Wallace, Evelyn Hsieh
Summary: This study indicates that individuals with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and an increased mortality rate compared to those without RMDs.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Rheumatology
Alfred H. J. Kim, Jeffrey A. Sparks
LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Julie J. Paik, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Alfred H. J. Kim
Summary: This article summarizes the impact of immunosuppression on immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, including waning immunity and the need for additional doses, breakthrough infection rates and severity, disease flare rates, as well as additional considerations and unanswered questions.
CURRENT OPINION IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
M. Kathryn Liszewski, John P. Atkinson
Summary: The alternative pathway (AP) is an important immune response mechanism, but its amplification and sustained activation may lead to diseases and harm human health. Genetic factors related to complement and chronic inflammatory processes are found to be associated with many diseases. Therefore, understanding the alternative pathway and developing novel therapeutic approaches is crucial for human health.
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Anuja Java, Alfred H. J. Kim
Summary: The complement system is a crucial component connecting the innate and humoral immune systems, but it can also be damaging to host tissue if misdirected or dysregulated. It plays an important role in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a thrombotic microangiopathy characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and organ injury. However, the role of complement in TMA associated with other diseases and its interaction with neutrophils and coagulation pathways complicates the understanding of its involvement. Understanding the role of complement in TMA associated with autoimmune diseases will help in timely diagnosis and management.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Ellen M. Cody, Scott E. Wenderfer, Kathleen E. Sullivan, Alfred H. J. Kim, Wesley Figg, Harneet Ghumman, Tingting Qiu, Bin Huang, Prasad Devarajan, Hermine Brunner
Summary: The Renal Activity Index for Lupus (RAIL) can non-invasively identify lupus nephritis (LN) and assess the efficacy of LN induction therapy. RAIL scores can differentiate clinically active LN from inactive LN or without LN. RAIL scores significantly decrease after complete LN remission.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Niti Pawar, Kimberly E. Taylor, Monica Yang, Parakkal Deepak, Wooseob Kim, Michael A. Paley, Mehrdad Matloubian, Alex Carvidi, Matthew A. Ciorba, Emanuel Demissie, Alia El-Qunni, Katherine Huang, Baylee Kinnett, Lily E. McMorrow, Diana Paez, Mackenzie Poole, Abigail Rose, Rebecca E. Schriefer, Alfred H. J. Kim, Mary Nakamura, Patricia Katz, Lianne S. Gensler
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the psychosocial burden of immunocompromised patients with chronic inflammatory disease (CID). The study found that vaccination resulted in improved patient-reported outcomes longitudinally among individuals with CID, regardless of baseline anxiety. Particularly, patients with higher anxiety showed greater improvement in anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sarah E. Greene, Yuefang Huang, Wooseob Kim, Mariel J. Liebeskind, Vinay Chandrasekaran, Zhuoming Liu, Parakkal Deepak, Michael A. Paley, Daphne Lew, Monica Yang, Mehrdad Matloubian, Lianne S. Gensler, Mary C. Nakamura, Jane A. O'Hallaran, Rachel M. Presti, Sean P. J. Whelan, William J. Buchser, Alfred H. J. Kim, Gary J. Weil
Summary: This study tested samples from immunocompetent adults and those receiving treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases before and after mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The lateral flow assay (LFA) detected anti-S antibodies in the majority of participants and showed significant correlation with ELISA results. LFA could be a practical alternative for detecting antibodies after infection or vaccination, particularly in outpatient or resource-limited settings.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY PLUS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Daphne Lew, Xinliang Huang, Sarah R. Kellahan, Hong Xian, Seth Eisen, Alfred H. J. Kim
Summary: The objective of this study is to identify patterns of anxiety symptomology over time among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to assess the longitudinal relationship between SLE disease activity and anxiety symptomology. The study found that anxiety trajectories remained stable over time, and racial differences in anxiety severity were observed. SLE disease activity was not longitudinally associated with anxiety after controlling for depression and other factors.
ACR OPEN RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)