Analysis of telomere length in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in different nutritional states

• Grant number: 24/04983-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Carolina Nicoletti Ferreira Fino
• Grantee: Beatriz Garcia de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by anomalous activity of the immune system (Tsokos GC, 2011). SLE is diagnosed and classified based on the patient's clinical symptoms, signs, and laboratory biomarkers that reflect immunological reactivity and inflammation in various organs. It is necessary to develop consistent SLE classification criteria for research and clinical diagnosis. Obesity is characterized by a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 30 kg/m2 and has been associated with a clinical condition described as low-grade systemic inflammation. Indeed, inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6. Chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with obesity may have an effect on symptoms, functional capacity, and markers of inflammation in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as SLE. The accumulation of body fat leads to increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can lead to exacerbation of the inflammation present in SLE. Telomeres are repetitive sequences of DNA (5'-TTAGGG-3') allow cells to distinguish chromosome ends from double-strand breaks and thus protect chromosomes from end-to-end fusion, recombination and degradation, prevent loss of genomic DNA at the ends of linear chromosomes and, in turn, protect their physical integrity. Objective: To evaluate the length of telomeres in blood cells from women with SLE who are normal weight or overweight. Methods: Patients will be recruited to the SLE group (N = 80) or CONTROL group (N = 40) according to pre-established inclusion criteria. Subsequently, they will be divided into subgroups according to nutritional status classified by body mass index (BMI), being adequate weight (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m²) or overweight (BMI >25.0 kg/m²). Fasting blood collection will be performed (genetic and metabolic analyses), anthropometric and body composition assessment, and analysis of food intake. For statistical analyzes the Komolgorov-Sminorv tests, ANOVA and regression models will be used. The significance level adopted will be pd0.05.