Objective To analyze the pathways, biomarkers and diagnostic genes of systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) using bioinformatics. Methods SSc-ILD related gene data sets from April to June 2023 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database for differential analysis and enrichment analyses including gene ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, disease ontology analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and support vector machine algorithms were applied to screen and take the intersection to get the diagnostic genes and validate the results. Disease-related data were analyzed by immune cell infiltration. Results A total of 178 differential genes were obtained, and enrichment analyses showed that they were related to 5 signaling pathways and associated with 3 diseases. The diagnostic genes screened were TNFAIP3, ID3, and NT5DC2, and immune cell infiltration showed that the diagnostic genes were associated with plasma cells, resting mast cells, activated natural killer cells, macrophage M1 and M2, resting dendritic cells, and activated dendritic cells. Conclusion The screened diagnostic genes and immune cells may be involved in the development of SSc-ILD.
【摘要】 目的 检测B细胞成熟抗原（BCMA）mRNA在系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）的表达水平，探讨BCMA在SLE发病中的意义。 方法 纳入2006年1-11月收治的36例SLE患者，同期17例健康志愿者作为对照组，采用半定量RT-PCR法检测外周血单个核细胞中BCMA mRNA的表达，并与SLE疾病活动指数（SLEDAI）进行相关性分析。 结果 SLE患者组BCMA mRNA表达水平（0.598±0.230）均明显高于正常对照组（0.411±0.309）（Plt;0.05）。SLE患者BCMA mRNA表达水平与SLEDAI评分无相关性（P=0.590）。 结论 SLE患者BCMA mRNA表达水平的增高，可能在SLE的发病机制中具有一定的作用。【Abstract】 Objective To detect the mRNA expression of B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and explore the role of BCMA in the pathogenesis of SLE. Methods From January 2006 to November 2006 the expression of BCMA mRNA in PBMC of 36 patients with SLE and 17 normal controls were measured by half-quantitative RT-PCR. The linear correlation between the expression of BCMA mRNA and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was assessed. Results The level of BCMA mRNA (0.598±0.230) in PBMC significantly increased in SLE patients compared with that in the normal controls (0.411±0.309) (Plt;0.05). The expression of BCMA mRNA in SLE patients showed no correlation with SLEDAI score (P=0.590). Conclusion The results suggest that the expression of BCMA mRNA might play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Objective To describe the disease characteristics of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experiencing prolonged glucocorticoid (GC) exposure. Methods Between January 2016 and June 2019, 449 SLE patients meeting the criteria were recruited from multiple centers. Hip MRI examinations were performed during screening and regular follow-up to determine the occurrence of ONFH. The cohort was divided into ONFH and non-ONFH groups, and the differences in demographic baseline characteristics, general clinical characteristics, GC medication information, combined medication, and hip clinical features were compared and comprehensively described. ResultsThe age at SLE diagnosis was 29.8 (23.2, 40.9) years, with 93.1% (418 cases) being female. The duration of GC exposure was 5.3 (2.0, 10.5) years, and the cumulative incidence of SLE-ONFH was 9.1%. Significant differences (P<0.05) between ONFH and non-ONFH groups were observed in the following clinical characteristics: ① Demographic baseline characteristics: ONFH group had a higher proportion of patients with body mass index (BMI)<20 kg/m2 compared to non-ONFH group. ② General clinical characteristics: ONFH group showed a higher proportion of patients with cutaneous and renal manifestations, positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and anticardiolipin antibodies, severe SLE patients [baseline SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score ≥15], and secondary hypertension. Fasting blood glucose in ONFH group was also higher. ③ GC medication information: ONFH group had higher initial intravenous GC exposure rates, duration, cumulative doses, higher cumulative GC doses in the first month and the first 3 months, higher average daily doses in the first 3 months, and higher proportions of average daily doses ≥15.0 mg/d and ≥30.0 mg/d, as well as higher full-course average daily doses and proportion of full-course daily doses ≥30.0 mg/d compared to non-ONFH group. ④ Combined medications: ONFH group had a significantly higher rate of antiplatelet drug use than non-ONFH group. ⑤ Hip clinical features: ONFH group had a higher proportion of hip discomfort or pain and a higher incidence of hip joint effusion before MRI screening than non-ONFH group. Conclusion The incidence of ONFH after GC exposure in China’s SLE population remains high (9.1%), with short-term (first 3 months), medium-to-high dose (average daily dose ≥15 mg/d) GC being closely associated with ONFH. Severe SLE, low BMI, certain clinical phenotypes, positive aPLs, and secondary hypertension may also be related to ONFH.