Human samples

We obtained peripheral blood from a total of 53 patients with SLE (49 females and 4 males, median age 36.0 years [IQR 30.0–43.0], median disease duration 6.0 years [IQR 1.0–11.0]) diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology revised criteria for SLE [23] and 48 healthy control subjects (HCs) after gaining informed consent in accordance with local ethics committee guidelines of Juntendo University. HCs were matched to patients with SLE for sex and age. The characteristics of patients with SLE and HCs are shown in Table 1. Disease activity was measured using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) [24], and a SLEDAI score ≥5 was defined as active disease. This study was conducted with the approval of the regional ethics committee at Juntendo University Hospital.

Characteristics of healthy control subjects and patients with lupus

Abbreviations: HCs Healthy control subjects, SLE Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLEDAI Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index

Values are n or median (interquartile range)

^aAzathioprine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, mizoribine, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus