Remote Skin and Blood Sampling for Translational Connective Tissue Disorder Research: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT: Remote, noninvasive biospecimen collection methods can address geographic and mobility-related barriers to participation in translational research for connective tissue disorders. We evaluated the feasibility of combining noninvasive skin tape stripping and Tasso capillary blood collection to molecularly profile lupus and morphea in remote settings using mailed kits. RNA extraction was optimized from 20 serial tape strips per site, with overnight shipping and scraping samples in buffer without sonication, yielding the highest concentration and quality. We enrolled 8 patients with lupus, 3 patients with morphea, and 8 healthy controls. Microarray analysis identified upregulation of CXCL9, CCR6, and PDGFRA in lupus and morphea skin. Proteomic analysis revealed elevated I

SUBMITTER: Alkurdi D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12590140 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature