OTKA ID Number: T 026525
Determination of Activity of the Autoimmune Process in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Principal Investigator: Prof Peter Gergely MD
Name of Institute: Central Laboratory of Immunology, Semmelweis University
Summary:
1) Laboratory evaluation of disease activity in SLE:
In a cohort of 101 patients, serum neopterin, soluble IL-2 receptor and anti-DNA antibodies, C3 and C4, hemolytic complement activity, and a logistic model providing the probable clinical activity (PCA) were compared. PCA showed the greatest difference between the values representing active and inactive stages of the disease, the highest correlation with SLEDAI and the highest sensitivity and specificity values.
In a cohort of 65 patients, complement activation products, such as C1rs-C1inh, C3b(Bb)P and SC5b-9 were measured. The difference between active and inactive stages of SLE was best reflected by C3b(Bb)P plasma concentration, which also showed the highest correlation with the SLEDAI (Nagy G et al. Lupus 9:19-25, 2000; Nagy G et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 18:699-706, 2000).
2)Intracellular cytokine production in SLE:
Intracellular IL-4 and interferon-gamma expression did not differ significantly between SLE patients and healthy controls. (Csiszár A et al. Clin Exp Immunol 122:1-9, 2000; Nagy G et al. Immunol Letters 74:207-10, 2000)