Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance

Objective The efficacy of sirolimus in treating severe or refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been confirmed by small-scale clinical trials. However, few studies focused on mild or moderate SLE. Therefore, in this study we elucidated clinical efficacy of add-on sirolimus in patients wi...

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Main Authors: Min Shi, Lin Yang, Jun Ma, Xiaoping Wang, Lu Jin, Meng Ding, Shaoxin Cui, Fei Chang, Hongtao Jin, Aijing Liu, Jinwen Zhao, Jingjing He, Shuran Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-05-01
Series:Lupus Science and Medicine
Online Access:https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001072.full
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author Min Shi
Lin Yang
Jun Ma
Xiaoping Wang
Lu Jin
Meng Ding
Shaoxin Cui
Fei Chang
Hongtao Jin
Aijing Liu
Jinwen Zhao
Jingjing He
Shuran Song
author_facet Min Shi
Lin Yang
Jun Ma
Xiaoping Wang
Lu Jin
Meng Ding
Shaoxin Cui
Fei Chang
Hongtao Jin
Aijing Liu
Jinwen Zhao
Jingjing He
Shuran Song
author_sort Min Shi
collection DOAJ
description Objective The efficacy of sirolimus in treating severe or refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been confirmed by small-scale clinical trials. However, few studies focused on mild or moderate SLE. Therefore, in this study we elucidated clinical efficacy of add-on sirolimus in patients with mild or moderate SLE.Methods Data of 17 consecutive patients with SLE were retrospectively collected. SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K), clinical manifestation, laboratory data and peripheral T lymphocyte subsets with cytokines were collected before and 6 months after sirolimus add-on treatment. T cell subsets were detected by flow cytometry and cytokines were determined by multiplex bead-based flow fluorescent immunoassay simultaneously. Twenty healthy controls matched with age and sex were also included in our study.Results (1) The numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cells, T helper (Th) cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells, Th1 cells, Th2 cells and Treg/Th17 ratios in patients with SLE were significantly lower, while the numbers of Th17 cells were evidently higher than those of healthy control (p<0.05). (2) After 6 months of sirolimus add-on treatment, urinary protein, pancytopenia, immunological indicators and SLEDAI-2K in patients with SLE were distinctively improved compared with those before sirolimus treatment (p<0.05). (3) The numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cells, Th cells, Treg cells, Th2 cells and the ratios of Treg/Th17 in patients with SLE after treatment were clearly higher than those before (p<0.05). (4) The levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-10 in patients with SLE decreased notably, conversely the IL-4 levels increased remarkably compared with pretreatment (p<0.05).Conclusions (1) Patients with SLE presented imbalanced T cell subsets, especially the decreased ratio of Treg/Th17. (2) Sirolimus add-on treatment ameliorated clinical involvement, serological abnormalities and disease activity without adverse reactions in patients with SLE. (3) The multi-target therapy facilitates the enhanced numbers of Treg cells, Treg/Th17 imbalance and anti-inflammatory cytokines, simultaneously, reducing inflammatory cytokines.
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spelling doaj-art-a295d815dbf54764aa7c630dd646e4872024-11-10T08:15:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupLupus Science and Medicine2053-87902024-05-0111110.1136/lupus-2023-001072Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balanceMin Shi0Lin Yang1Jun Ma2Xiaoping Wang3Lu Jin4Meng Ding5Shaoxin Cui6Fei Chang7Hongtao Jin8Aijing Liu9Jinwen Zhao10Jingjing He11Shuran Song12Hebei Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, ChinaObjective The efficacy of sirolimus in treating severe or refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been confirmed by small-scale clinical trials. However, few studies focused on mild or moderate SLE. Therefore, in this study we elucidated clinical efficacy of add-on sirolimus in patients with mild or moderate SLE.Methods Data of 17 consecutive patients with SLE were retrospectively collected. SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K), clinical manifestation, laboratory data and peripheral T lymphocyte subsets with cytokines were collected before and 6 months after sirolimus add-on treatment. T cell subsets were detected by flow cytometry and cytokines were determined by multiplex bead-based flow fluorescent immunoassay simultaneously. Twenty healthy controls matched with age and sex were also included in our study.Results (1) The numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cells, T helper (Th) cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells, Th1 cells, Th2 cells and Treg/Th17 ratios in patients with SLE were significantly lower, while the numbers of Th17 cells were evidently higher than those of healthy control (p<0.05). (2) After 6 months of sirolimus add-on treatment, urinary protein, pancytopenia, immunological indicators and SLEDAI-2K in patients with SLE were distinctively improved compared with those before sirolimus treatment (p<0.05). (3) The numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cells, Th cells, Treg cells, Th2 cells and the ratios of Treg/Th17 in patients with SLE after treatment were clearly higher than those before (p<0.05). (4) The levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-10 in patients with SLE decreased notably, conversely the IL-4 levels increased remarkably compared with pretreatment (p<0.05).Conclusions (1) Patients with SLE presented imbalanced T cell subsets, especially the decreased ratio of Treg/Th17. (2) Sirolimus add-on treatment ameliorated clinical involvement, serological abnormalities and disease activity without adverse reactions in patients with SLE. (3) The multi-target therapy facilitates the enhanced numbers of Treg cells, Treg/Th17 imbalance and anti-inflammatory cytokines, simultaneously, reducing inflammatory cytokines.https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001072.full
spellingShingle Min Shi
Lin Yang
Jun Ma
Xiaoping Wang
Lu Jin
Meng Ding
Shaoxin Cui
Fei Chang
Hongtao Jin
Aijing Liu
Jinwen Zhao
Jingjing He
Shuran Song
Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance
Lupus Science and Medicine
title Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance
title_full Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance
title_fullStr Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance
title_full_unstemmed Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance
title_short Add-on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via T lymphocyte subsets balance
title_sort add on sirolimus for the treatment of mild or moderate systemic lupus erythematosus via t lymphocyte subsets balance
url https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001072.full
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