Increased levels of circulating DNA in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases: A possible marker of disease activity in Sjögren’s syndrome

• Published in: Lupus 2011-08, Vol.20 (9), p.928-935
• Main Authors: Bartoloni, E, Ludovini, V, Alunno, A, Pistola, L, Bistoni, O, Crinò, L, Gerli, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Adult; Apoptosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology; Autoimmune diseases; Biomarkers - blood; Disease; Disease Progression; DNA - blood; Female; Humans; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - genetics; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Plasma; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology; Sepsis; Sjogren's Syndrome - blood; Sjogren's Syndrome - genetics; Sjogren's Syndrome - physiopathology; Thromboembolism
• ISSN: 0961-2033; 1477-0962
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203311399606

High levels of serum and/or plasma circulating DNA (cDNA) have been described in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs). However, the role of this molecule has not been clarified. Our aim was to evaluate plasma cDNA levels in 48 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 44 primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients, as compared with healthy and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subjects, and to analyse their correlation with disease activity, disease damage and clinical manifestations. Plasma DNA was extracted using Qiagen columns and quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. Disease activity and damage were evaluated in both diseases by analysis of clinical and laboratory findings. Our results showed that plasma cDNA levels were significantly higher in patients with SS (mean ± SE: 32.0 ± 7.3 ng/ml) and with SLE (35.0 ± 9.0 ng/ml) than in controls (5.1 ± 1.1 ng/ml) (p