Relationships between Type 1 interferon signatures and clinical features of the new-onset lupus patients in Japan

Objectives The objective of the study is to investigate the relationships between Type 1 interferon (T1-IFN) signatures and clinical characteristics of lupus patients. Methods We examined 49 new-onset lupus patients who were diagnosed between 1999 and 2017. The patients treated with >10 mg of prednisolone or hydroxychloroquine were excluded from this study. Serum T1-IFN signatures were revealed by a functional reporter assay and standardized by recombinant IFN-α. Patient backgrounds, clinical findings, and treatments were retrospectively extracted from their electrical medical records. Clinical data were also available, including SLE Disease Activity Index of SLE patients on admission. Results T1-IFN signatures of lupus patients closely correlated with lupus disease activities, such as SLE Disease Activity Index-2K, white blood cell, C3 levels, and the titre of double-strand DNA antibody. We found fever and acute lupus dermatitis closely associated with T1-IFN signature. Conclusions In lupus patients, fever and acute lupus dermatitis are good indicators of a strong T1-IFN signature.