Single-cell resolution of longitudinal blood transcriptome profiles in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy control pregnancies
Authors' conclusion
We found distinct RA, SLE and pregnancy signatures, and no expression patterns could be attributed to medication or disease activity.
Study context
- Population
- Women with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls sampled before pregnancy, at each trimester, and 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months post partum335 whole blood samples
- Participants
- 84 women
- Exposure
- RA vs SLE vs healthy pregnancies
- Outcome
- Cellular composition and peripheral blood gene expression
Methodological detailsbulk and single-cell RNA analyses, flow cytometry validation, cell-type adjusted analysis
- Bulk and single-cell RNA analyses
- Flow cytometry validation
- Cell-type adjusted analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- SLE: interferon signature augmented during pregnancy; pregnancy signature continued post partum
- Altered cell type composition strongly influences the profile
- Pregnancy signature: transcripts involved in galactosylation, potentially altering autoantibody effector functions, became more evident
- Several genes in the adjusted RA signature are expressed in mucosal associated invariant T cells
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Disease control and pregnancy complications
- Patients well regulated throughout pregnancy; few had pregnancy complications
Original publication
Single-cell resolution of longitudinal blood transcriptome profiles in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy control pregnancies. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 15 February 2024. doi:10.
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