Clinical Sample Metadata from Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Several studies establish the regulation role of the non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in different pathological processes present insystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), such as potential modulators of inflammatory/immune response. However, thesimultaneous analysis as biomarkers and the interaction between different ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of SLE is scarce. Inaddition, ncRNAs are also released into circulation selectively packed into extracellular vesicles, specially exosomes, and thisarea relies underexplored. Therefore, the main objective of this project is to analyze in liquid biopsies the involvement ofncRNAs, with emphasis in exosomes, on specific pathways associated with the disease flare pattern (relapsing -remittingcourse) as well as with kidney damage in SLE, in order to identify a predictive ncRNA biosignature. Two independent cohortswill be used to discover and confirm the selected ncRNAs. Previously, an inclusion of healthy subjects, SLE and diabeticnephropathy patients have been conducted (n=255 samples from plasma, urinary and plasmatic exosomes). In this cohort, wewill identify and select the top performing ncRNA candidates. Then, in a large set of samples (n=750) we will validate theresults with the development of a ncRNA biosignature determining whether it is a good long-term prognostic panel to detectlupus activity and renal damage progression. Finally, to better understand the regulation mechanisms of selected ncRNAs inthe pathophysiology of renal damage, we will evaluate their effects in vitro on podocytes and renal proximal tubular epithelialcells morphology and biology alterations.