الفهرس 
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Abstract
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune condition characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, partly related to the disease itself, but also linked to its comorbidities and drugs adverse reactions. Following the previous annual reviews, we focused on new insights in SLE clinical features, pathogenic pathways, biomarkers of specific organ involvement and therapeutic strategies.
The aim of this study was to: 1- assess peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) expression of LnCRNAs and NOD2 by real time PCR in SLE patients. 2- flow cytometric analysis to quantify the T-lymphocyte expression of CD4+ and CD8+ cells 3- study correlation between the results of these variables and different clinical and laboratory findings of those patients.
group I:It comprised 40 SLE women. Their ages ranged from (16-37) years with mean + SD of (24.7 + 5.3) years.
The study subjects were divided into two subgroups according to the presence of protein in 24hrs urine:
group Ia:19 patients without proteinuria
group Ib: 21 patients with proteinuria
group II: It consists of 40 apparently healthy women to serve as a control group. Their ages ranged from 18-35 years with mean + SD of 26.8 + 5.4 years.
In our study, we excluded patients with rheumatic disease other than SLE, SLE patients who had prior treatment with monoclonal antibodies or other biological drugs, patients having malignant tumours and patients having ongoing infection.
All patients and controls were subjected to:
1-careful history taking.
2-clinical examination.
3-Laboratory Investigation:
A- Routine investigations:
• Complete blood count (CBC).
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• Liver function tests
• Renal function tests
• Urine analysis
• 24 hour urine proteins
• Rheumatoid factor(RF)
• C-reactive protein(CRP)
(B)Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus:
1- Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA)
2- Anti double strand DNA
3- Complement 3 (C3)
4- Complement 4 (C4)
(C) special investigations
1- Flowcytometric analysis for identification and enumeration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.
2- Detection of long non coding Lnc RNA by real time PCR.
3- Detection of nucleotide oligomerizationdomain(NOD2) expression by real time PCR.
Regarding the age, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The duration of illness in SLE group ranged from 1 to12 years
Regarding the CBC, the SLE patients had a statistically significant lower WBCs count compared to the control group .as regarding staff percent, SLE patients had a statistically significant lower staff percent compared to the control group
The other parameter of CBC showed no significant difference between the two groups.
Regarding the ESR in the first hour, it was statistically significantly higher in SLE group compared to control group. Also, the ESR in the second hour was significantly higher in SLE group compared to control group.
Regarding the liver and kidney function tests, SLE patients had a statistically significantly higher values of ALT, AST, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, serum urea and proteinuria /24 hour.
Regarding RF, it was negative in the entire control group, while, it was negative in only 30 (75%) SLE patients.
Similarly, CRP was negative in all controls and positive in only 7(17.5 %) of SLE patients.
Concerning the percentage of CD4 lymphocyte expression it was statistically significantly lower in SLE patients than controls .Similar trend was observed for CD8 lymphocyte expression.
Values of Ln CRNA and NOD2 were significantly higher in SLE patients in comparison to the control group.
Regarding LnCRNA and NOD2 they were statistically significantly higher in group Ia and Ib than control group 1. Also, it was significantly higher in group Ib than group Ia . Concerning CD4 % it was statistically significantly lower in group Ia and Ib , than controls . Values were comparable in group Ib and group Ia . Concerning CD8 % it was statistically significantly lower in group Ia, than controls, but they were comparable in group Ib and group Ia.
In SLE patients without proteinuria, the correlation matrix of C3, C4, LnCRNA, NOD2, CD4, CD8 and SLEDAI showed a significant moderate negative correlation between C4 and blood level of NOD2 , as well as a significant strong positive correlation between CD4 and CD 8.
There was significant fair negative correlation between C3 and blood level of LnCRNA , and a fair positive correlation between LnCRNA and SLEDAI, as well as a significant strong positive correlation between T lymphocyte expression of CD4 and CD8.
There were a significant moderate positive correlations between C3 and each of staff cells .proteinuria /24 hours, and first hour ESR. Also serum levels of C4 displayed a statistically fair to moderate positive correlations with second hour ESR, and anti-double strand DNA, respectively. Moreover, blood levels of NOD2 showed a significantly moderate positive correlation with anti-double strand DNA .
T lymphocyte expression of CD4 had a significant fair negative correlation with % of staff cells and a significant moderate positive correlation with values of CRP while blood levels of LnCRNA and NOD2 exhibited significant fair positive correlation with values of proteinuria /24hours.