MicroRNA155 Expression in Different Phenotypes and Genotypes of Behçet's Disease in a Sample of Egyptian Patients.

AIM: To display microRNA155 (miRNA155) expression in different entities of Behçet's disease (BD), and to find out if expression is affected in more than one of disease status than another, either phenotypically, according to HLA B51 expression, presence of family history, or patients' age. METHODS: Thirty BD patients (13 of which were HLAB51 positive) and 15 healthy subjects' samples were obtained. White blood cell miRNA155 expression in both types of samples was estimated. RESULTS: Results showed that there is a degree of relation between decrease of miRNA155 expression and different disease aspects, and also, that miRNA155 has an inverse relation with the patients' ages. CONCLUSION: MiRNA155 might be used as a measure of disease of different phenotypes, and that any manifestation of the disease can happen when the expression level decreases.

Study of serology and genetics of celiac disease in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus 'celiac in juvenile systemic lupus'.

INTRODUCTION: Several case reports and case series have suggested a possible association between celiac disease (CD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with CD developing SLE and vice versa have been reported, highlighting a possible association. Up to 23% of patients with CD have raised anti-double-stranded DNA and likewise 5-22% of SLE patients are seropositive for CD. OBJECTIVE: Aim was to screen for CD in the serum of patients suffering from juvenile SLE (JSLE). METHODS: One hundred JSLE patients and 40 (age- and sex-matched) healthy subjects were subjected to laboratory screening for CD, endoscopic examination and histopathological examination of the duodenal biopsies to confirm CD diagnosis (in seropositive cases only). RESULTS: tTG Ab tested positive in 10% and negative in 90% of patients. tTG Ab correlated significantly with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score (P < 0.001) and insignificantly with hemoglobin and C-reactive protein. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy was done to all 10 patients with positive serology for CD revealing six patients with manifest celiac (positive serology and positive endoscopy/biopsy) and four cases of latent celiac (positive serology and negative endoscopy/biopsy). CONCLUSION: Most CD patients with articular symptoms remain undiagnosed, which makes screening justified in high-risk patients with autoimmune diseases. This study highlights the strong relationship between JSLE and CD and the need to screen JSLE patients and also other auto-immune rheumatic diseases for the concomitant existence of CD.

MicroRNA155 Expression in Relation to BDCAF Scored Behçet's Disease in an Egyptian Patients' Sample.

OBJECTIVE: To discover the possibility of using microRNA155 (miRNA155) expression level as a biomarker of Behçet's Disease (BD) activity or remission. METHODS: Thirty BD patients' white blood cells (WBCs) miRNA155 expression was measured and compared to WBCs miRNA155 expression in 15 healthy subjects. Assessment of disease activity was done using Behçet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). RESULTS: miRNA155 expression significantly decreases with the increase of BD activity scored by BDCAF. CONCLUSION: Increased miRNA155 may be used as a biomarker of BD remission and thus in the disease follow up. There could be a prospect of treating the disease via microRNA 155 effect enhancement.