Ricerc@Sapienza

The development of autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is associated with both genetic and environmental factors. It has been shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is able to alter the immune response towards self-antigens and may enhance risk of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in genetically predisposed individuals. We have previously shown in an Italian cohort that, anti-EBV-VCA and EA IgG titers were significantly higher in ANA-positive patients in comparison to the controls as well as in those ANA-positive patients that showed a concomitant ENA positivity. Interestingly, an elevated anti-EBNA-1 IgG titer was found in a group of patients who had anti SSA/Ro antibodies. Anti-VCA IgM Abs were more frequently found in those patients with a very high titer of ANA ; moreover detection of anti-VCA IgM/IgG in absence of anti-EBNA-1 IgG was more frequent in the patient than in the control group.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding regulatory RNAs which bind to 3¿ UTR of target mRNA to regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Their stability, small size and ability to circulate in blood makes them ideal diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Lytic reactivation of EBV is associated with SLE but if viral miRNAs are altered in the process and if they can be found in circulation is completely unknown. The present proposal will test both cellular and viral miRNAs in serum of a large cohort of Italian SLE patients and healthy controls. The results obtained from this proposal will provide, for the first time, novel viral miRNA based diagnostic and prognostic markers for SLE.