Lupus erythematosus: a study on the cytokine profile of it's oral lesions

• Grant number: 09/52322-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2009
• End date: September 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Marcello Menta Simonsen Nico
• Grantee: Marcello Menta Simonsen Nico
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lupus erythematosus is a chronic, multisystemic, inflammatory disease, probably mediated by autoimmune mechanisms. Several studies demonstrated the importance of many inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, in the development of LE lesions. Our objective in this study is to determine the cytokine profile in intra oral (sun-covered) LE lesions, and to compare them to labial (sun-exposed) lesions. Biopsies of 40 patients will be included. We will focus on the following cytokines: interleukins (IL)2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, TNF-A, INF-G, using immunohistochemistry techniques. (AU)