{
  "abstract": "Objectives In this longer term observational study we aim to identify immune related changes predictive for disease course and possible transition of CLE into SLE. This first analysis looks at parameters associated with SLE in CLE patients.Methods Serum (n=39) was analysed for parameters linked to B cell activation (sCD40L, APRIL; Legendplex B cell panel). In mature erythrocytes we analysed mitochondrial retention by flow cytometry using a MitoTracker. In the PBMC fraction we determined the proportion of low density granulocyte (LDG) by flow cytometry and the IFN signature by qPCR. Samples from SLE patients (n= 11) and healthy controls (n=9) were analysed for comparison.Results In SLE patients, the percentage of mitochondria-positive mature erythrocytes was about 20% compared to 2% positivity seen in the healthy individuals. The cutaneous subtypes, particularly SCLE and CDLE, showed 10% and 5% mitochondria-positive mature erythrocytes, respectively. The same ‘stepwise’ increase from healthy, CDLE, SCLE to SLE subtypes was also seen for IFN signature expression in the blood compartment. The LDG fraction increased two-fold in CDLE and 3-5 fold in SLE when compared to healthy controls and showed a high significance. As expected, the serum levels of CD40L and APRIL were increased in SLE compared to healthy individuals. Interestingly, CLE subtypes also showed a comparable increase in CD40L and APRIL serum levels with a mean expression level only 15.8% below SLE for sCD40L and 16.7% for APRIL.Our CLE cohort is a mix of established and recently diagnosed CLE subtypes under different therapy schemes. While a more in-depth and follow up analysis is pending, we observed that in established CLE hydroxychloroquine therapy does not seem to fully suppress the IFN signature in those patients still having active lesions.Conclusions In summary, we show that a substantial proportion of patients with LE limited to the skin show immune changes in the blood compartment. The significance of this finding for the course of the disease is not clear yet. It will be extremely interesting to find out if any of those parameters may predict the risk for systemic involvement or therapy response in the future.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Sakshi Vasant Wagle"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Olga Emetz"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Esmaty"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Maike Kaufhold"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany",
        "Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Daniela Kramer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Department of Dermatology, Mainz, Germany",
        "Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Miriam Wittmann"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PO:02:028 Cutaneous lupus is more than skin deep",
  "uid": "089a420f-fa90-5f14-997e-234d97fa53d4"
}