POS0101 POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT OF IL-40 AND IL-40 PRODUCING CELLS IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND LUPUS ASSOCIATED NEPHRITIS

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder, characterized by remarkable heterogeneity of clinical presentations. Glomerulonephritis (GN) remains leading cause morbidity and mortality in SLE, influencing long-term prognosis. The alteration both innate adaptive immune responses plays pivotal role SLE pathophysiology [1]. B lymphocytes are mainly involved through the production autoantibodies but recent evidence suggests an effector these cells cytokine production. IL-40 recently discovered cytokine, produced their homeostasis, that may participate pathogenesis B-mediated diseases, such as [2]. Objectives purpose this study was to evaluate with specific focus on renal involvement. Methods Peripheral blood urine samples were collected from 10 consecutive patients healthy controls; kidney biopsy specimens obtained 3 controls. concentration serum evaluated ELISA. monocytes, T assessed flow cytometry at day 0 after vitro stimulation. Immunohistochemistry tissue also performed expression. Results levels reduced active GN. This reduction further observed previous In patients, without involvement, did not change significantly compared Urinary showed no significant changes Consistently, immunohistochemistry expression only (Figure 1). Flow cytometric analysis cells, monocytes isolated peripheral GN show IL-40. Figure 1. overexpression nephritis level . Kidney biopsies stained for controls ( A ), Class III ) V C intense positivity B, ). Conclusion To best our knowledge first demonstration associated nephritis. These preliminary data suggest disease. Our results highlight potential use marker GN, although its mechanism action needs be elucidated. References [1]Tsokos GC, Lo MS, Costa Reis P, Sullivan KE. New insights into immunopathogenesis systemic erythematosus. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2016;12(12):716-730. [2]Catalan-Dibene J, Vazquez MI, Luu VP, Nuccio SP, Karimzadeh A, Kastenschmidt JM, et al. Identification IL-40, Novel Cell-Associated Cytokine. J Immunol. 2017;199(9):3326-35. Disclosure Interests Chiara Rizzo: None declared, Lidia La Barbera: Marianna Pizzo: Leila Mohammadnezhad: Vincenzo Luca Lentini: DENISE DONZELLA: Francesco Ciccia Speakers bureau: lilly, pfizer, novartis, celgene, abbvie, roche, janssen, UCB, SERENA FASANO: Giuliana Guggino UCB