The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis

Abstract Background Elevated B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) correlate positively with disease activity; BLyS expression is directly linked to interferon (IFN) pathway activation. This post hoc meta-analysis of BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 explored...

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Main Authors: Christel Wilkinson, Robert B. Henderson, Angela R. Jones-Leone, Shaun M. Flint, Mark Lennon, Roger A. Levy, Beulah Ji, Damon L. Bass, David Roth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-05-01
Series:Arthritis Research & Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13075-020-02177-0
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author Christel Wilkinson
Robert B. Henderson
Angela R. Jones-Leone
Shaun M. Flint
Mark Lennon
Roger A. Levy
Beulah Ji
Damon L. Bass
David Roth
author_facet Christel Wilkinson
Robert B. Henderson
Angela R. Jones-Leone
Shaun M. Flint
Mark Lennon
Roger A. Levy
Beulah Ji
Damon L. Bass
David Roth
author_sort Christel Wilkinson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Elevated B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) correlate positively with disease activity; BLyS expression is directly linked to interferon (IFN) pathway activation. This post hoc meta-analysis of BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 explored the relationship between baseline BLyS mRNA/protein levels and/or type 1 IFN-inducible gene signature (IFN-1) and responses to the BLyS-targeting monoclonal antibody belimumab in SLE. Methods In BLISS-52 and BLISS-76, patients with autoantibody-positive SLE and a SELENA-SLEDAI score ≥ 6 and receiving stable standard SLE therapy were randomised to intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg or placebo, plus standard of care (SoC), for 52 or 76 weeks. For this post hoc meta-analysis, patients with an appropriate mRNA sample were stratified by BLyS mRNA expression (tertiles: high/medium/low; revised quantiles: high/low), IFN-1 mRNA expression (high/low) and BLyS protein level (high/low). Co-primary endpoints were correlation between baseline BLyS and IFN-1 mRNA levels and SLE Responder Index (SRI)4 response at week 52 within BLyS/IFN-1 subgroups. Secondary endpoints included time to first severe SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index (SFI) flare. Results Of 554 patients included in this analysis, 281 had received belimumab and 273 had received placebo. Baseline BLyS and IFN-1 mRNA levels were highly correlated (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.7799; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7451, 0.8106; p < 0.0001). The proportion of SRI4 responders was higher with belimumab versus placebo in all subgroups, but the difference reached statistical significance in the medium BLyS mRNA tertile (odds ratio [OR] 2.17; 95% CI 1.16, 4.04; p = 0.0153), high BLyS mRNA quantile (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.02, 2.44; p = 0.0402), high IFN-1 mRNA (OR 1.58; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.31; p = 0.0186) and high BLyS protein (OR 3.57; 95% CI 1.63, 7.83; p = 0.0015) subgroups only. The risk of severe SFI flare was significantly lower with belimumab than placebo in the high BLyS mRNA quantile (hazard ratio [HR] 0.59; 95% CI 0.36, 0.97; p = 0.0371) and high BLyS protein (HR 0.39; 95% CI 0.19, 0.79; p = 0.0090) subgroups. Conclusions This post hoc meta-analysis demonstrated a tendency towards improved response to add-on intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg versus SoC alone in patients with high baseline BLyS protein and IFN-1 mRNA levels and medium/high BLyS mRNA levels.
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spelling doaj.art-0924274602404ad3a219d4663a5e0c262022-12-21T19:05:11ZengBMCArthritis Research & Therapy1478-63622020-05-0122111110.1186/s13075-020-02177-0The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysisChristel Wilkinson0Robert B. Henderson1Angela R. Jones-Leone2Shaun M. Flint3Mark Lennon4Roger A. Levy5Beulah Ji6Damon L. Bass7David Roth8GSKGSKGSKGSKGSKGSKGSKGSKGSKAbstract Background Elevated B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) correlate positively with disease activity; BLyS expression is directly linked to interferon (IFN) pathway activation. This post hoc meta-analysis of BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 explored the relationship between baseline BLyS mRNA/protein levels and/or type 1 IFN-inducible gene signature (IFN-1) and responses to the BLyS-targeting monoclonal antibody belimumab in SLE. Methods In BLISS-52 and BLISS-76, patients with autoantibody-positive SLE and a SELENA-SLEDAI score ≥ 6 and receiving stable standard SLE therapy were randomised to intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg or placebo, plus standard of care (SoC), for 52 or 76 weeks. For this post hoc meta-analysis, patients with an appropriate mRNA sample were stratified by BLyS mRNA expression (tertiles: high/medium/low; revised quantiles: high/low), IFN-1 mRNA expression (high/low) and BLyS protein level (high/low). Co-primary endpoints were correlation between baseline BLyS and IFN-1 mRNA levels and SLE Responder Index (SRI)4 response at week 52 within BLyS/IFN-1 subgroups. Secondary endpoints included time to first severe SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index (SFI) flare. Results Of 554 patients included in this analysis, 281 had received belimumab and 273 had received placebo. Baseline BLyS and IFN-1 mRNA levels were highly correlated (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.7799; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7451, 0.8106; p < 0.0001). The proportion of SRI4 responders was higher with belimumab versus placebo in all subgroups, but the difference reached statistical significance in the medium BLyS mRNA tertile (odds ratio [OR] 2.17; 95% CI 1.16, 4.04; p = 0.0153), high BLyS mRNA quantile (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.02, 2.44; p = 0.0402), high IFN-1 mRNA (OR 1.58; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.31; p = 0.0186) and high BLyS protein (OR 3.57; 95% CI 1.63, 7.83; p = 0.0015) subgroups only. The risk of severe SFI flare was significantly lower with belimumab than placebo in the high BLyS mRNA quantile (hazard ratio [HR] 0.59; 95% CI 0.36, 0.97; p = 0.0371) and high BLyS protein (HR 0.39; 95% CI 0.19, 0.79; p = 0.0090) subgroups. Conclusions This post hoc meta-analysis demonstrated a tendency towards improved response to add-on intravenous belimumab 10 mg/kg versus SoC alone in patients with high baseline BLyS protein and IFN-1 mRNA levels and medium/high BLyS mRNA levels.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13075-020-02177-0Systemic lupus erythematosusB lymphocyte stimulatorB cell activating factorBelimumabInterferonMessenger RNA
spellingShingle Christel Wilkinson
Robert B. Henderson
Angela R. Jones-Leone
Shaun M. Flint
Mark Lennon
Roger A. Levy
Beulah Ji
Damon L. Bass
David Roth
The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis
Arthritis Research & Therapy
Systemic lupus erythematosus
B lymphocyte stimulator
B cell activating factor
Belimumab
Interferon
Messenger RNA
title The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis
title_full The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis
title_fullStr The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis
title_short The role of baseline BLyS levels and type 1 interferon-inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus: a post hoc meta-analysis
title_sort role of baseline blys levels and type 1 interferon inducible gene signature status in determining belimumab response in systemic lupus erythematosus a post hoc meta analysis
topic Systemic lupus erythematosus
B lymphocyte stimulator
B cell activating factor
Belimumab
Interferon
Messenger RNA
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13075-020-02177-0
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