biostudies-literatureUnknownNatoli VEuropean Research CouncilVersus ArthritisMedical Research CouncilWellcome Trust<h4>Objectives</h4>This study investigated serum IFN-α2 as a putative marker of disease activity and predictor of disease flares in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE).<h4>Methods</h4>222 serum samples were analysed, including 28 healthy controls (HCs), 88 JSLE (159 samples), and 35 juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients. IFN-α2 levels were determined using Single-molecule array (Simoa). Cross-sectionally, median IFN-α2 levels were compared between patient groups and disease activity state sub-groups. Time to flare was analysed by linear regression. Longitudinally, the ability of the IFN-α2 and other traditional biomarkers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate/ESR, low C3 and anti-dsDNA antibodies) to detect and predict flares was assessed via a generalised linear mixed model.<h4>Results</h4>Cross-sectional analysis showed higher median IFN-α2 levels in the active/intermediate group (median 3,185 fg/mL, IQR 48-13,703) compared to the LDAS (571 fg/mL, IQR 57-1,310 fg/mL, p = 0.04) and remission sub-groups (271 fg/mL, IQR 3-56, p < 0.001). IFN-α2 was higher in all JSLE patients (median 587 fg/mL, IQR 11-2,774) as compared to JIA patients (median 7 fg/mL, IQR 3-236, p = 0.0017) and HCs (p = 0.017). JSLE patients in remission or LDAS with abnormal IFN-α2 levels had a shorter time to flare over the subsequent six months compared to those with normal IFN-α2 levels (p = 0.022). Longitudinally, multivariable analysis demonstrated high IFN-α2 to be the only predictor of an ongoing flare (p = 0.028).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Serum IFN-α2 levels associate with disease activity and can predict ongoing and future flares in jSLE. These findings suggest that quantification of IFN-α2 may support risk stratification and disease monitoring in these patients.Rheumatology (Oxford, England)keae643https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7617100biostudies-literatureElevated serum interferon-α2 associates with activity and flare risk in Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.PMC761710020621786142MC_UU_00035/11215621/Z/19/ZJorgensen ALTharmaratnam KHunt DPJHedrich CMMd Smith ECrow YJNatoli VBeresford MWfalseElevated serum interferon-α2 associates with activity and flare risk in Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.<h4>Objectives</h4>This study investigated serum IFN-α2 as a putative marker of disease activity and predictor of disease flares in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE).<h4>Methods</h4>222 serum samples were analysed, including 28 healthy controls (HCs), 88 JSLE (159 samples), and 35 juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients. IFN-α2 levels were determined using Single-molecule array (Simoa). Cross-sectionally, median IFN-α2 levels were compared between patient groups and disease activity state sub-groups. Time to flare was analysed by linear regression. Longitudinally, the ability of the IFN-α2 and other traditional biomarkers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate/ESR, low C3 and anti-dsDNA antibodies) to detect and predict flares was assessed via a generalised linear mixed model.<h4>Results</h4>Cross-sectional analysis showed higher median IFN-α2 levels in the active/intermediate group (median 3,185 fg/mL, IQR 48-13,703) compared to the LDAS (571 fg/mL, IQR 57-1,310 fg/mL, p = 0.04) and remission sub-groups (271 fg/mL, IQR 3-56, p < 0.001). IFN-α2 was higher in all JSLE patients (median 587 fg/mL, IQR 11-2,774) as compared to JIA patients (median 7 fg/mL, IQR 3-236, p = 0.0017) and HCs (p = 0.017). JSLE patients in remission or LDAS with abnormal IFN-α2 levels had a shorter time to flare over the subsequent six months compared to those with normal IFN-α2 levels (p = 0.022). Longitudinally, multivariable analysis demonstrated high IFN-α2 to be the only predictor of an ongoing flare (p = 0.028).<h4>Conclusion</h4>Serum IFN-α2 levels associate with disease activity and can predict ongoing and future flares in jSLE. These findings suggest that quantification of IFN-α2 may support risk stratification and disease monitoring in these patients.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2025-04-03T23:56:13.179Z2025-04-03T23:56:13.179ZS-EPMC76171003958990710.1093/rheumatology/keae643