View clinical trials related to SLE.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of vitamin D3 on the expression of alpha interferon (IFN alpha) expression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with vitamin D deficiency.
Over the past few years, growing evidences revealed that clearance of apoptotic cells by phagocytosis can result in powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. In vivo, apoptotic cells are cleared rapidly by neighboring cells, macrophages and related scavengers. Defective clearance of apoptotic cells has been linked closely to autoimmunity and persistent inflammatory disease. Several phagocytic receptors, bridging molecules produced by phagocytes and 'eat-me' signals on apoptotic cells are coordinately involved in mediating clearance of apoptotic cells. Complement receptors (CR3, CR4), collection, CD14, CD36 (Class B scavenger receptor), class A scavenger receptor, asialoprotein receptor, Mer receptor kinase were reported to recognize apoptotic cells. The best characterized system for clearance of apoptotic cells is the recognition of phosphatidylserine (PS) on apoptotic cells by phosphatidylserine receptor (PSR). Milk fat globule- epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is an opsonin that bridges phagocytes (by interacting with α vβ3, αvβ5 integrins via RGD motif) and apoptotic cells (by binding PS through Factor V/VIII-C domain). Activated macrophages produce and secret MFG-E8. MFG-E8 is a critical component in PSR-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. The dominant negative mutant MFG-E8, D89E, that carried a mutated RGD motif inhibited phagocytosis of apoptotic cells in vitro. Injection of D89E into wild type mice induced autoantibodies and IgG deposition on glomeruli. Macrophages from MFG-E8 deficiency (MFG-E8-/-) mice were impaired in engulfment of apoptotic cells, which can be restored by adding recombinant MFG-E8. The female MFG-E8-/- mice spontaneously produced high titer of autoantibodies and developed lupus-like glomerulonephritis at the age of week 40. Defective clearance of apoptotic cells is closely related to development of autoimmunity. In the past 4 years, a growing number of molecules were recognized as receptors for the PS exposed on the apoptotic cells. These molecules were capable of mediating phagocytic clearance, rendering anti-inflammatory cytokines in the phagocytes, and modulating T cell responses. The specific aim of this proposal is to study genetic polymorphism in MFG-E8, PSR and other factors implicated in phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells among Taiwanese. By comparing the polymorphism between patients with autoimmune disease (SLE or RA) and healthy control subjects, we will investigate if genetic variations among individuals of genes encoding proteins involved in clearance of apoptotic cells contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases SLE and RA.
Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), a new member of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, is a decoy receptor for FasL and could inhibit FasL-induced apoptosis, has recently been shown to induce costimulation of T cells. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with pathogenic autoantibodies and immune complexes results from abnormal immune responses including T and B lymphocyte hyperactivity, and formation of pathogenic subsets of autoantibodies. Rhematoid arthritis (RA) is a multi-systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammatory synovitis. Activated T lymphocytes infiltration to synovium is strongly correlated with the symptoms. DcR3 mRNA is expressed in peripheral-blood T cells and is up-regulated after antigenic stimulation. The DcR3 gene has been demonstrated to be overexpressed in patients with sclerosis or SLE; however, role of DcR3 in SLE and RA as well as the effects of DcR3 on T cell immune response is still not clear. This study is to investigate role of DcR3-induced T cell activation in SLE and RA. The genetic polymorphisms of DcR3 in association with SLE and RA will be studied to elucidate the genetic factors associated with development of SLE and RA. For further explore the possible molecular mechanisms of elevated DcR3 in association with SLE, we attempt to study whether DcR3 could induce T cell activation via costimualtion and/or inhibit the activation induced cell death (AICD) of activated T cells in SLE and RA. This study will provide a new direction of therapy in reverse T cell hyper-reactivity in SLE and RA.
The purpose of this study is to see if there is an improvement in patient's quality of life, pain, and fatigue after undergoing a supervised exercise program. If improvement is found, this will help guide standard of care with lupus patients with a focus on exercise for improvement of endurance, pain and overall health.