SLE redefined on the basis of molecular pathways

Abstract

The implementation of precision medicine requires the recruiting of patients in statistically enough numbers, the possibility of obtaining enough materials, and the integration of data from various platforms, which are all real limitations. These types of studies have been performed extensively in cancer but barely on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other rheumatic diseases. To consider the practical use of the information obtained from such studies, we have to take into account the best biological fluid to use, the ease to perform the analysis in clinical practice, and its relevance to clinical practice. Here we review the most relevant studies that have performed analyses that attempt to classify or stratify SLE. We focus on two types of studies: those that stratify individuals diagnosed with SLE and those that compare SLE with other autoimmune diseases, defining differences and similarities that may be clinically relevant in the future.

Keywords: Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome; C1q deficiency; Epigenome; Genome-wide association studies; Human leukocyte antigens; Interferonopathies; Neuropsychiatric SLE; Omics; TREX1; Transcriptome.