Potential New Diagnostic and Disease Monitoring Biomarker for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Found in B Cells

A new study published in Lupus Science & Medicine found a new diagnostic and disease activity monitoring biomarker for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which could help understand pathogenesis, identify therapeutic targets, and guide clinical management. 

In the study, researchers performed an analysis which grouped B cells from people with SLE into different gene models and related them to clinical features. The analysis revealed one gene module was significantly correlated with SLE clinical features and associated with the type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway, which impacts B cell functions involving SLE. Researchers focused on long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) and found IncRNA RP11-273G15.2 was highly present in all B cells of people with SLE, but not the healthy controls or those with other autoimmune diseases. Additionally, RP11-273G15.2 was positively correlated with IFN scores and disease activity which leads researchers to believe the IncRNA could act as a diagnostic and disease activity biomarker. 

Because SLE is unpredictable, monitoring disease activity and timely interventions are very important. Further studies are needed to investigate RP11-273G15.2 as a potential biomarker for SLE treatment. Learn more about diagnosing lupus.

Read the study