Trial Information

Role of DcR3 in T Cell Activation in SLE and RA

Specific Aim 1. Study DcR3-induced T cell activation in SLE and RA. A. Patients and controls
Patients with SLE and RA in Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University
Hospital will be studied. All patient meet the criteria of the American College of
Rheumatologists for diagnosis of SLE and RA. As controls, 20 healthy age- and gender-matched
volunteers will be used. All the studies including samples involving human is in accordance
with institutional guidelines.

B. Detection of serum DcR3 protein in SLE and RA patients C. T cell proliferation assay

Specific Aim 2. Study effects of DcR3 on activation-induced cell death (AICD) in SLE and RA
In order to understand whether DcR3 could reduce the AICD in activated T cells in SLE and RA
patients, the T cells from these patients will be assayed their AICD in the presence and
absence of soluble DcR3-Fc.

Specific Aim 3. To investigate the association of clinical manifestation of SLE and RA with
genetic polymorphism on DcR3 genes.

A. The gene sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of DcR3 genes.

B. The association of clinical manifestation of SLE and RA with genetic polymorphism on DcR3
genes.