Anti-nucleosome B Lymphocytes in Lupus

Analysis of Frequency and Phenotype of Anti-nucleosome B Lymphocyte in Systemic Lupus

Lupus disease is characterized by the production of pathogenic autoantibodies, which participate in end-organ damages. The phenotype of B cells producing the pathogenic autoantibodies in lupus patients is today unknown. Antinucleosome antibodies are characteristic of lupus disease.This project proposes to detect antinucleosome B cells in lupus patients and to analyse their phenotype and their frequency.

Inclusion criteria for SLE patients:

SLE patient : diagnostic based on ACR criteria

• SLE patient producing seric anti-nucleosome antibodies (ELISA)
• SLEDAI-2K activity score : inferior to 5 for quiescent patients, superior to 8 since at least 2 months for active patients

Exclusion criteria for SLE patients:

-- Other autoimmune diseases than SLE- Induced lupus

• Treatment with corticosteroids >10mg/d (prednisone) for quiescent patients
• Treatment with corticosteroids >20mg/d (prednisone) for active patients
• Oral immunosuppressive treatment during the last 6 months (methotrexate, azathioprine, ciclosporine, mycophénolate mofétil) for all patients, treatment during the last year with cyclophosphamide or monoclonal antibodies (rituximab, belimumab) for pour quiescent patients
• Disease which can modify B and T lymphocyte functions: primary immune deficiencies, evolutive infections, chronic viral infection (VIH in particular), chemotherapy or neoplasm antecedent