Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Deconvolution of whole blood transcriptomics identifies changes in immune cell composition in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with mycophenolate mofetil
An erratum to this article was published (Arthritis Res Ther, 4 Sep 2023 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
MMF has a significant and persisting effect on the whole blood transcriptomic signature in patients with SLE.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with active SLE (BILAG-2004 Index) enrolled in the BILAG-Biologics Registry (BILAG-BR), prior to change in therapy (MASTERPLANS consortium)
- Participants
- 109 patients
- Exposure
- Current or past mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) exposure vs never exposed to MMF
- Outcome
- Predicted immune cell frequency (CIBERSORTx), MMF exposure
Methodological detailsregistry-based (BILAG-BR), whole blood RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) deconvolution (CIBERSORTx)
- Registry-based (BILAG-BR)
- Whole blood RNA-seq deconvolution (CIBERSORTx)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Fewer with MMF
- Inactivated macrophages 0.435% vs 1.391%; P = 0.001
- Fewer with MMF
- Naïve CD4 T cells 0.961% vs 2.251%; P = 0.002
- Fewer with MMF
- Regulatory T cells 1.858% vs 3.574%; P = 0.007
- Higher with MMF
- Memory activated CD4 T cells 1.826% vs 1.113%; P = 0.015
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Differentially expressed genes with MMF exposure
- Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in patients exposed to MMF, with over-representation of eosinophil function and erythrocyte development and function pathways
- 2607
- Within CD4 + T cells, fewer predicted DEGs related to MMF exposure
Other conventional immunosuppressants and disease activity in the nine BILAG-2004 organ domains
- No significant differences
Original publication
Deconvolution of whole blood transcriptomics identifies changes in immune cell composition in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with mycophenolate mofetil. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 30 June 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →