MicroRNAs of TNFa gene in systemic lupus erythematosus: potential biomarkers

• Grant number: 16/23269-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Simone Appenzeller
• Grantee: Mariana Postal Zink de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune and systemic disease, characterized by periods of activity and remission. The clinical diversity may be explained by the complexity of the factors involved in its pathogenesis, as well as genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. SLE is a heterogeneous disease regarding presentation, as for disease severity, response to treatment, and organ damage, among others. Different cytokine profiles may account for these variations observed in the clinical practice. More recently, regions of microRNA (miRNA) have been studied. miRNAs are small RNA molecules (non-coding) whose primary function is to act as post-transcriptional silencers (regulators). It is assumed that human miRNAs regulate many mRNA targets. We propose to investigate the presence of polymorphism of miRNA regions of TNFA gene, to describe clinical and laboratory profile of these SLE patients associated to the polymorphisms, in order to assess whether miRNAs could be considered biomarkers for SLE. We will collect peripheral blood samples of 300 SLE patients and 600 healthy controls and identify miRNA polymorphism in the TNFA gene by DNA Sequencing by Capillary Electrophoresis. SLE patients will assess for clinical and laboratory SLE manifestations, disease activity [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], damage [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI)] and current therapy. Our performance indicator will be the identification of the miRNA polymorphism in the TNFA gene, and possible associations between gene polymorphisms and clinical/laboratory features in SLE patients. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LONDE, ANA CAROLINA; FERNANDEZ-RUIZ, RUTH; JULIO, PAULO ROGERIO; APPENZELLER, SIMONE; NIEWOLD, TIMOTHY B.. Type I Interferons in Autoimmunity: Implications in Clinical Phenotypes and Treatment Response. JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY, v. 50, n. 9, p. 11-pg., 2023-09-01. (08/02917-0, 16/23269-3)

POSTAL, MARIANA; VIVALDO, JESSICA F.; FERNANDEZ-RUIZ, RUTH; PAREDES, JACQUELINE L.; APPENZELLER, SIMONE; NIEWOLD, TIMOTHY B.. Type I interferon in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. CURRENT OPINION IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 67, p. 87-94, DEC 2020. (08/02917-0, 16/23269-3)