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Variables associated to fetal microchimerism in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

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Abstract

In the present study, we sought to identify the factors during the pregnancy of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients that could be linked to the presence and proliferation of male fetal cells (MFC) and the possible relation between these factors and development of lupus nephritis (LN). We evaluated 18 healthy women (control group) and 28 women affected by SLE. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and quantified using the technique of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for specific Y chromosome sequences. The amount of MFC was significantly higher in the SLE group compared with the controls (SLE 252 ± 654 vs control 2.13 ± 3.7; P = 0.029). A higher amount of MFC was detected among multiparous SLE patients when compared with the control group (SLE 382 ± 924 vs control 0.073 ± 0.045; P = 0.019). LN was associated with reduced amount of MFC (LN 95.5 ± 338 vs control 388 ± 827; P = 0.019) especially when they have delivered their child before age 18 (LN 0.23 ± 0.22 vs control 355 ± 623; P = 0.028). SLE patients present a higher amount of MFC, which may increase with the time since birth of the first male child. LN patients showed an inverse correlation with MFC, suggesting that the role of the cells may be ambiguous during the various stages of development of the disease.

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Abbreviations

LN:

Lupus nephritis

SLE:

Systemic lupus erythematosus

FM:

Fetal microchimerism

MFC:

Male fetal cell

ACR:

American College of Rheumatology

qPCR:

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction

SRY:

Sex-determining region Y

MCF/mL:

Male fetal cell per milliliter

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Authors’ contributions

GMSF and IMMF collected and assembled data, performed data analysis and interpretation, and helped to prepare the manuscript. HCC performed data analysis and interpretation, provided administrative support, and helped to prepare the manuscript. ECP and EMGB provided technical support and helped to prepare the manuscript. MAF was responsible for study conception and design, collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing, and final approval of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Immunology and Transplantation Experimental—LITEX, Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima 5416, 15090-000, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Greiciane Maria da Silva Florim, Heloisa Cristina Caldas, Ida Maria Maximina Fernandes & Mario Abbud-Filho

  2. Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit Laboratory—UPGEM, Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima 5416, 15090-000, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Erika Cristina Pavarino & Eny Maria Goloni Bertollo

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology Medical School—Hospital de Base Sao Jose Rio Preto, Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima 5416, 15090-000, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Mario Abbud-Filho

  4. Instituto de Urology e Nefrologia, Rua Voluntários de São Paulo, 3826, 15015-200, Sao Jose Rio Preto, SP, Brazil

    Mario Abbud-Filho

Authors
  1. Greiciane Maria da Silva Florim
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  2. Heloisa Cristina Caldas
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  3. Erika Cristina Pavarino
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  4. Eny Maria Goloni Bertollo
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  5. Ida Maria Maximina Fernandes
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  6. Mario Abbud-Filho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario Abbud-Filho.

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The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the medical school (number 0007/2000) in accordance with the current standards for human research, and informed consent of patients was obtained.

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da Silva Florim, G.M., Caldas, H.C., Pavarino, E.C. et al. Variables associated to fetal microchimerism in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Clin Rheumatol 35, 107–111 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3122-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-015-3122-8

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