biostudies-literatureBellocchi CNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesGruppo Italiano per la Lotta alla Sclerodermia GILS Bando Giovani RicercatoriNational Institutes of HealthNIAMS NIH HHS1662-1668https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10072882biostudies-literatureUnknown62(4)<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate peripheral blood cell (PBCs) global gene expression profile of SSc at its preclinical stage (PreSSc) and to characterize the molecular changes associated with progression to a definite disease over time.<h4>Material and methods</h4>Clinical data and PBCs of 33 participants with PreSSc and 16 healthy controls (HCs) were collected at baseline and follow-up (mean 4.2 years). Global gene expression profiling was conducted by RNA sequencing and a modular analysis was performed.<h4>Results</h4>Comparison of baseline PreSSc to HCs revealed 2889 differentially expressed genes. Interferon signalling was the only activated pathway among top over-represented pathways. Moreover, 10 modules were significantly decreased in PreSSc samples (related to lymphoid lineage, cytotoxic/NK cell, and erythropoiesis) in comparison to HCs. At follow-up, 14 subjects (42.4%) presented signs of progression (evolving PreSSc) and 19 remained in stable preclinical stage (stable PreSSc). Progression was not associated with baseline clinical features or baseline PBC transcript modules. At follow-up stable PreSSc normalized their down-regulated cytotoxic/NK cell and protein synthesis modules while evolving PreSSc kept a down-regulation of cytotoxic/NK cell and protein synthesis modules. Transcript level changes of follow-up vs baseline in stable PreSSc vs evolving PreSSc showed 549 differentially expressed transcripts (336 up and 213 down) with upregulation of the EIF2 Signalling pathway.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Participants with PreSSc had a distinct gene expression profile indicating that molecular differences at a transcriptomic level are already present in the preclinical stages of SSc. Furthermore, a reduced NK signature in PBCs was related to SSc progression over time.Rheumatology (Oxford, England)Longitudinal global transcriptomic profiling of preclinical systemic sclerosis reveals molecular changes associated with disease progression.PMC10072882R61 AR078078R61AR078078R56 AR078211R56AR078211Lorini MBellocchi CBeretta LLyons MAAssassi SMarchini MMontano NWang XCarbonelli VfalseLongitudinal global transcriptomic profiling of preclinical systemic sclerosis reveals molecular changes associated with disease progression.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate peripheral blood cell (PBCs) global gene expression profile of SSc at its preclinical stage (PreSSc) and to characterize the molecular changes associated with progression to a definite disease over time.<h4>Material and methods</h4>Clinical data and PBCs of 33 participants with PreSSc and 16 healthy controls (HCs) were collected at baseline and follow-up (mean 4.2 years). Global gene expression profiling was conducted by RNA sequencing and a modular analysis was performed.<h4>Results</h4>Comparison of baseline PreSSc to HCs revealed 2889 differentially expressed genes. Interferon signalling was the only activated pathway among top over-represented pathways. Moreover, 10 modules were significantly decreased in PreSSc samples (related to lymphoid lineage, cytotoxic/NK cell, and erythropoiesis) in comparison to HCs. At follow-up, 14 subjects (42.4%) presented signs of progression (evolving PreSSc) and 19 remained in stable preclinical stage (stable PreSSc). Progression was not associated with baseline clinical features or baseline PBC transcript modules. At follow-up stable PreSSc normalized their down-regulated cytotoxic/NK cell and protein synthesis modules while evolving PreSSc kept a down-regulation of cytotoxic/NK cell and protein synthesis modules. Transcript level changes of follow-up vs baseline in stable PreSSc vs evolving PreSSc showed 549 differentially expressed transcripts (336 up and 213 down) with upregulation of the EIF2 Signalling pathway.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Participants with PreSSc had a distinct gene expression profile indicating that molecular differences at a transcriptomic level are already present in the preclinical stages of SSc. Furthermore, a reduced NK signature in PBCs was related to SSc progression over time.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Apr2025-06-25T03:04:35.708Z2025-04-05T14:02:26.175ZS-EPMC100728823604018210.1093/rheumatology/keac492