Anti-dsDNA Antibodies Increase the Cardiovascular Risk in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Promoting a Distinctive Immune and Vascular Activation

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated to boosted atherosclerosis development and a higher cardiovascular disease risk. This study aimed to delineate the role of anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies on the molecular profile and the activity of immune and vascular cells, as well as on their enhanced cardiovascular risk.

Approach And Results: Eighty SLE patients were included. Extensive clinical/analytical evaluation was performed, including cardiovascular disease parameters (endothelial function, proatherogenic dyslipidemia, and carotid intima-media thickness). Gene and protein expression profiles were evaluated in monocytes from patients diagnosed positive or negative for anti-dsDNA antibodies by using NanoString and cytokine arrays, respectively. NETosis and circulating inflammatory profile was assessed in both neutrophils and plasma. Positivity and persistence of anti-dsDNA antibodies in SLE patients were associated to endothelial dysfunction, proatherogenic dyslipidemia, and accelerated atherosclerosis. In parallel, anti-dsDNA antibodies were linked to the aberrant activation of innate immune cells, so that anti-dsDNA(+) SLE monocytes showed distinctive gene and protein expression/activity profiles, and neutrophils were more prone to suffer NETosis in comparison with anti-dsDNA(−) patients. Anti-dsDNA(+) patients further displayed altered levels of numerous circulating mediators related to inflammation, NETosis, and cardiovascular risk. In vitro, Ig-dsDNA promoted NETosis on neutrophils, apoptosis on monocytes, modulated the expression of inflammation and thrombosis-related molecules, and induced endothelial activation, at least partially, by FcR (Fc receptor)-binding mechanisms.

Conclusions: Anti-dsDNA antibodies increase the cardiovascular risk of SLE patients by altering key molecular processes that drive a distinctive and coordinated immune and vascular activation, representing a potential tool in the management of this comorbidity.