Manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus in female patients with polysomy X: Possible roles of chromosome X

Systemic lupus erythematosus with trisomy X: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

The cause of systemic lupus erythematosus is not completely clear so far, but the prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus is significantly increased in people with additional X chromosomes.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a 17-year-old Chinese female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with trisomy X, accompanied by lupus nephritis, pancytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and multiserous effusion. The patient recovered well after treatment and returned regularly. We review the previously reported cases to summarize the clinical characteristics of these patients.

CONCLUSION

The additional X chromosome is related to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus. Whether it is a subtype of systemic lupus erythematosus remains to be further confirmed.

Long non-coding RNA Xist contribution in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Growing evidence points towards the role of the long non-coding (lnc)-RNA Xist expressed in female cells as a predominant key actor for the sex bias observed in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Indeed, in female cells, lnc-Xist controls transcription directly by spreading across the inactivated X chromosome (Xi) and indirectly by sequestring miRNAs as a sponge. The inactivation process at Xi is altered in lymphocytes from SLE women and associated with important variations in ribonucleoproteins (RNP) associated with lnc-Xist. In fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and osteoclasts from RA women, proinflammatory and proliferative pathways are upregulated due to the sequestration effect exerted by lnc-Xist overexpression on miRNAs. The key role played by lnc-Xist in SLE and RA is further supported by it's knock down that recapitulates the SLE B cell extrafollicular profile and controls RA associated FLS proinflammatory cytokine production and proliferation.

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus with trisomy X and the increased risk for bone complications: a case report

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-organ inflammatory autoimmune disease; immune complexes are part of the pathogenesis, but not entirely responsible. Trisomy X is the most common female chromosomal abnormality and the role of an additional X chromosome in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus is well recognized. However, the potential complications and optimal management of childhood lupus with trisomy X remain unclear. Herein, we describe a case of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus associated with severe bone complications presumably secondary to trisomy X.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 16-year-old Japanese girl was diagnosed with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and trisomy X. A chromosomal abnormality (47, XXX) was incidentally identified on bone marrow examination initially done to determine the cause of pancytopenia. She had a persistent headache, fever　for six days, diffuse hair loss, mucosal ulcers, butterfly eruptions, and palmar erythema. Furthermore, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and erythrocyte fragmentation were detected, suggesting secondary thrombotic microangiopathy. She was initially treated with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy and prescribed monthly cyclophosphamide for severe disease activity, prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine as remission maintenance drugs. She developed generalized extremity pain that had been worsening throughout the disease. Extremity magnetic resonance imaging performed 12 months after the treatment onset revealed multifocal avascular necrosis, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry revealed further decreased bone mineral density. High plasma levels of factor VIII were detected by additional tests for coagulation functions, and we suspected the possibility that factor VIII might cause avascular necrosis due to thrombosis. Currently, she is being treated with prednisolone and MMF for SLE. However, her extremity pain has not been managed effectively even under the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pregabalin.

CONCLUSIONS

An additional X chromosome has been reported to be associated with factor VIII and osteoporosis. Additionally, elevated plasma levels of FVIII is the risk factors for thrombosis, which leads to the risk of avascular necrosis. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by trisomy X might be at a higher risk of avascular necrosis and osteoporosis that can also manifest in childhood systemic lupus erythematosus.

Trisomy X in a patient with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a rare, chronic and systemic autoimmune disease generally with a more severe clinical phenotype than the adult-onset SLE. In both conditions, it is known that females are predominantly affected; therefore, the possible overlap of SLE and sex chromosomal abnormalities has attracted attention. Our case report describe the clinical manifestations and immunological profile of a Brazilian female with cSLE and trisomy X. The 22 year-old patient, diagnosed with cSLE at age of 11, present some features related to 47, XXX, such as difficulties at school and communication, although this was not enough to investigate for chromosome abnormalities. Cytoscan HD array screening allowed the comprehensive diagnosis for this patient. We also characterized her ancestral composition, showing that she has 6.2% higher African component than the mean from health subjects from the same geographical area. This report reinforces the role of the X chromosome dose effect for sex bias in SLE, as well as the importance of African ancestry composition in cLES. It also throws lights upon the application of high-throughput molecular analysis in a large scale cohort can be useful to detect the impact of the genomic findings for more accurate epidemiological data.