Study of KAT2B Expression on CD4+T Lymphocytes in Juvenile Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional comparative study that was carried out on 30 patients with SLE following up at the Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University. All patients fulfilled at least four of the SLICC criteria of systemic lupus erythematosus 2012. The study mainly aimed at the exploration of KAT2B expression on MNCs in patients with juvenile onset SLE and its relation to biomarkers of lupus flare and organ involvement. Moreover, we sought to investigate the relationship between KAT2B expression on MNCs and the SLEDAI, and immunosuppressive therapy. The ultimate objective was to explore the effect of one of the epigenetics in the immunopathogenesis of lupus which will open a new era in targeted management of this disease. Our results revealed that KAT2B expression on MNCs was significantly lower among the SLE patients as compared to the healthy controls. Moreover, patients with moderate and severe lupus activity had significantly lower KAT2B expression on MNCs than those with mild activity in terms of the SLEDAI scoring system.