RNA-seq of blood from donors with connective tissue diseases in the Lupus Extended Phenotype Cohort

The connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are group of inflammatory disorders with overlapping clinical and serological manifestations. We have undertaken Lupus Extended Phenotype (LEAP) study in of a cohort of adult patients with CTDs, namely systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, mixed and undifferentiated CTD, limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis. RNAseq was undertaken in 12 participants from 4 'cohorts' based on interferon stimulated gene and autoantibodies analyses: 3 ISG positive and anti-Smith positive participants; 3 ISG positive and anti-Smith negative participants; 3 ISG negative and anti-Smith positive participants and 3 ISG negative and anti-Smith negative participants.