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INTRODUCTION: Several studies have shown an association of anti-C1q antibodies (abs) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis and disease activity. The aim of this study is to determine the relevance of the anti-C1q abs and the C1q levels, in Black South Africans with SLE and their relevance to disease activity and/or organ damage, specifically renal disease. METHODS: Serum anti-C1q abs and C1q levels were measured in 96 SLE patients who were also assessed for disease activity, using the SELENA Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and organ damage as measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC) Damage Index. Furthermore patients were assessed for the presence of an active urine sediment as evidenced by otherwise unexplained proteinuria, haematuria or cellular casts. Serum anti-C1q abs was measured by a commercial Elisa kit and serum C1q by immunoelectrophoresis. RESULTS: Of the 96 patients; the majority, 87 were female (90.65%), with a mean (SD) age and disease duration (SD) of 38.1 (13.0) years and 4.2 (4.4) years respectively. An active urine sediment was found in 21 (21.88%) patients. Elevated anti-C1q abs were present in 12 (12.50%) of the patients and 7 (14.29%) of the patients with renal involvement. Serum anti-C1q abs levels correlated significantly with SELENA SLEDAI scores (p=0.004, r =0.41).Anti-C1q abs levels were significantly higher in patients with an active urine sediment (p= 0.007). C1q levels were decreased in 17/96 (17.71%) patients and 11/49 (22.45%) patients with renal involvement. No associations with any other clinical features were observed. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that in Black South Africans with SLE, although elevated anti-C1q abs levels were present in only a small minority of patients, the abs were associated with SLE global activity as determined by the SELENA SLEDAI and to the presence of an active urine sediment. These findings suggest that anti-C1q abs are a potential bio-marker of disease activity, especially active renal disease.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht.

Thesis (doctoral)--Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-144). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Wong, Tsz Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-159). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.I / Abbreviations --- p.III / Abstract --- p.V / 摘要 --- p.VIII / Publications --- p.XI / Table of Contents --- p.XII / Chapter Chapter 1: --- General Information / Chapter 1.1 --- Characteristics and Prevalence of SLE --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Diagnosis of SLE --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Assessment of Disease Activity --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Causes of SLE --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Genetic Factors --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Hormonal Factors --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Environment Factors --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- Drug Treatments of SLE --- p.8 / Chapter 1.6 --- Immunological Dysregulation in SLE --- p.9 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Types and Properties of Lymphocytes --- p.9 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Cytokines and Chemokines --- p.14 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Toll-like Receptors --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Intracellular Signal Transduction Pathways --- p.21 / Chapter 1.7 --- Objectives of Our study --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Material and Methods / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- SLE Patients and Control Subjects --- p.27 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Reagents for cell culture --- p.28 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Reagents for Flow Cytometry --- p.30 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Reagents for Phosphorylation State Analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Reagents for Total RNA Extraction --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Reagents for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Reagents for Gel Electrophoresis --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Reagents for Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.9 --- Other Reagents --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Preparation of Plasma and Purification of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) from EDTA-Blood --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Immunophenotyping of Cell Surface Molecules by Flow Cytometry --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Immunophenotyping of Intracellular Molecules by Flow Cytometry --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Phosphorylation State Analysis of Intracellular Signaling Molecules --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Cytometric Bead Array of Cytokines and Chemokines --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Total RNA Extraction from PBMC --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Reverse Transcription of the Extracted Total RNA --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.46 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot (ELISPOT) --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.11 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.49 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- B Cell Chemokine CXCL13 in SLE / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Characteristics of SLE Patients and Control Subjects --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Expression of Plasma CXCL13 --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Gene Expression of TNF-α in PBMC --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Expression of sTNFRl in Plasma --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- T lymphocyte Co-stimulatory Molecule CD26 in SLE / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methods --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Characteristic of SLE Patients and Control Subjects --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Expression of Human CD26 in Plasma --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- "Cell Surface Expression of CD26 on Monocytes, Th, Tc plus Ts, B and iNKT Lymphocytes" --- p.66 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Circulating Number of iNKT Lymphocytes --- p.67 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.71 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Thl7 Lymphocytes and Expression of IL-17 in SLE / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2 --- Methods --- p.78 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Characteristics of SLE Patients and Control Subjects --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Ex vivo production of IL-17A from PBMC --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Circulating Number of Thl7 Lymphocytes --- p.79 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.82 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Intracellular Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases in SLE / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.87 / Chapter 6.2 --- Methods --- p.89 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.91 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Characteristics of SLE Patients and Control Subjects --- p.91 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Expression of Phospho-p38 MAPK in PBMC --- p.91 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Expression of Phospho-ERK in PBMC --- p.92 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Expression of Phospho-JNK in PBMC --- p.92 / Chapter 6.3.5 --- "Relative Percentage Increase of Phosphorylated p38 MAPK, ERK and JNK upon IL-18 Activation" --- p.93 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussion --- p.104 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Toll-like Receptors in SLE / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.111 / Chapter 7.2 --- Methods --- p.113 / Chapter 7.3 --- Results --- p.115 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Characteristics of SLE Patients and Control Subjects --- p.115 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Expression of TLRl to TLR9 of PBMC --- p.115 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- Preliminary Results of Cytokine and Chemokine Expression Upon TLR Lignad Activation --- p.116 / Chapter 7.4 --- Discussion --- p.126 / Chapter Chapter 8: --- Conclusion and Future Perspectives --- p.133 / Appendix --- p.138 / References --- p.140

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.