AB0506 MICRORNA A POTENTIAL MARKER OF LUPUS ACTIVITY IN AN EGYPTIAN LUPUS COHORT

Background: MicroRNAs play central roles in different stages of cellular activity, as well as contribute extensively to multifaceted aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. Screening from approximately a thousand human miRNAs, studies have concluded that their dysfunction has been related to the development and activity of diseases.(1) In addition, The expression levels of miRNAs in serum are stable, reproducible, and consistent. Thus, testing serum microRNA sequence provide novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic strategies in SLE patients.(2) Objectives: To study the role of micro-RNA-142-3p expression in SLE in an Egyptian cohort and its role as a potential biomarker of lupus activity. Methods: Expression of microRNA- 142-3p extracted from peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells determined using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay. A total of 60 plasma samples were obtained from 30 SLE patients without clinical and laboratory evidence of lupus nephritis (group A) and 30 SLE patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of lupus nephritis confirmed by renal biopsy (group B). Results: We found a significant correlation between micro-RNA-142-3p expression levels and serum level of anti ds-DNA in both group A (p=0.007) and group B (p=019). We also found no significant correlation between micro-RNA-142-3p expression levels and C3 (p=0.399) & C4 (p=0.375) in group A, while there was a significant correlation in group B with both C3 (P=0.005) and C4 (P=0.002).In addition to, We demonstrated a significant correlation between micro-RNA-142-3p expression levels and SLEDAI score in both group A (P=0.001) and group B (P=0.007). Conclusion: The expression level of micro-RNA-142-3p could be considered a potential activity marker in SLE patients with and without lupus nephritis. References [1] Amarilyo G, La Cava A. miRNA in systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Immunol 2012; 144:26–31. [2] Wang Z, Chang C, Peng M, Lu Q. Translating epigenetics into clinic: focus on lupus. Clin Epigenetics 2017; 9:78. Disclosure of Interests: None declared