Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased bisphenol A methylation score linked to SLE risk genes and selected clinical subphenotypes
Authors' conclusion
Our findings reveal a novel association between BPA exposure and DNA methylation changes in SLE, with potential implications for the regulation of immune-related gene expression.
Study context
- Population
- Swedish patients with SLE and healthy controlsdiscovery n=747
- Comparison
- Patients with SLE vs healthy controls
- Outcome
- Methylation at BPA-sensitive CpG sites: BPASLE score (3 CpGs co-localised with SLE risk loci) and BPAAll score (19 CpGs)
Methodological detailsdiscovery and replication cohorts, meta-analysis, Illumina HM450k bead chip
- Discovery and replication cohorts
- Meta-analysis
- Illumina HM450k bead chip
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BPASLE score, SLE vs controls
Odds ratio
1.34
P = 4.6×10-13
discovery cohort
Odds ratio
1.28
P = 1.1×10-5
replication cohort
Odds ratio
1.32
P = 3.3×10-17
meta-analysis
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR | P value |
|---|---|---|
| BPAAll score, SLE vs controlsSLE vs Controls · discovery cohort | 1.05 | P = 2.3×10-3 |
| BPAAll score, SLE vs controlsSLE vs Controls · replication cohort | 1.04 | P = 0.12 |
| BPAAll score, SLE vs controlsSLE vs Controls · meta-analysis | 1.05 | P = 7.0×10-4 |
Association of scores with clinical data
- Both scores associated with prednisolone treatment
- P < 0.001
- BPASLE score associated with serositis and autoantibodies
- P < 0.05
Transcriptomic data from Bisphenol A (BPA)-treated cells
- Enrichment in pathways such as interferon and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling
Original publication
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased bisphenol A methylation score linked to SLE risk genes and selected clinical subphenotypes. RMD Open. Published 25 September 2025. doi:10.
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