Recent advances in the involvement of epigenetics in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a typical systemic autoimmune disease that manifests as skin rash, arthritis, lymphadenopathy, and multiple organ lesions. Epigenetics, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation, mainly affect the function and characteristics of cells through the regulation of gene transcription or translation. Increasing evidence indicates that there are a variety of complex epigenetic effects in patients with SLE, which interfere with the differentiation and function of T, and B lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils, and enhance the expression of SLE-associated pathogenic genes. This paper summarizes our currently knowledge regarding pathogenesis of SLE, and introduces current advances in the epigenetic regulation of SLE from three aspects: immune function, inflammatory response, and lupus complications. We propose that epigenetic changes could be used as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of SLE.

Reproductive aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an auto-immune systemic disease showing a strong predilection for women of reproductive age. Higher prevalance of SLE among young women are in part accounted for by the effects of estrogen hormone on immune system. The key pathophysiological features of this disease are the generation of autoantibodies and the deposition of antibody-antigen complexes in the basal membranes of the organs where they evoke inflammatory responses and injury. Young females diagnosed with SLE are more prone to developing a multitude of adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes, especially in the presence of active disease. Our motivation in writing this review article is to outline the recent interesting findings of molecular and clinical studies showing multi-faceted roles of estrogen hormone in both normal immune function and auto-immunity and to provide an update on the ovarian function and other poor reproductive outcomes in young females with SLE.

Nefritis como debut lúpico en el embarazo: reporte de dos casos y revisión de la literatura / Nephritis as a lupic debut in pregnancy: report of two cases and review of the literature

ANTECEDENTES: El lupus eritematoso sistémico es una enfermedad autoinmunitaria multisistémica que afecta principalmente a mujeres en edad fértil. La nefritis lúpica es la manifestación clínica más frecuente durante la gestación y constituye un factor de riesgo para la pérdida del embarazo, en especial en pacientes con insuficiencia renal. Además, presenta mayor riesgo de pérdida fetal, restricción del crecimiento intrauterino e hipertensión. CASOS CLÍNICOS: El primer caso se trata de una gestante de 28 + 2 semanas con daño renal grave y anticuerpos anti-DNA en título elevado. En el segundo caso destaca el debut con sintomatología de dificultad respiratoria y edemas como manifestaciones clínicas de nefropatía lúpica tipo V a las 23 semanas de gestación. En ambas pacientes destaca la prematuridad como complicación perinatal, así como el crecimiento intrauterino retardado en el primer caso. Por último, se describen los resultados clínico-analíticos tras el inicio terapéutico específico en ambos casos. CONCLUSIONES: El diagnóstico diferencial del debut de nefritis lúpica durante la gestación continúa siendo un desafío, a pesar de los avances en cuanto a marcadores angiogénicos. La valoración clínica continúa siendo la piedra angular de este proceso diagnóstico y de sus implicaciones en cuanto a complicaciones del embarazo actuales y futuras.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem autoimmune disease that mainly affects women of childbearing age. Lupus nephritis represents the most frequent clinical manifestation in pregnancy, constituting a risk factor for pregnancy loss, especially in patients with kidney damage. It also has a higher risk of fetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction, and gestational hypertension. CLINICAL CASES: The first case is a 28 + 2-week pregnant woman with severe kidney damage and high-titles anti-DNA antibodies. In the second case, we highlight the debut with symptoms of respiratory distress and edema as clinical manifestations of type V lupus nephropathy in a 23-week gestation. In both cases, prematurity stands out as a perinatal complication, as well as delayed intrauterine growth in the former. Finally, the clinical-analytical results are described, after the specific therapeutic initiation in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: The differential diagnosis of the onset of lupus nephritis during pregnancy continues to be a challenge, despite the advances in angiogenic markers; clinical assessment continues to be the cornerstone of this diagnostic process and its implications for current and future pregnancy complications.