Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe, life-threatening chronic autoimmune disease, affecting over 30,000 Canadians. Without a cure, the available therapies aim to control the disease but have serious associated side effects. The cause of SLE is not well understood but it is believed to be a result of both inherited genetic and environmental factors. Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating our immune system and has been shown to be related to the risk of developing many autoimmune diseases including SLE. Vitamin D has been shown to decrease the activity of the cells and molecules responsible for causing SLE. Therefore, there may be inherited differences in the genes that maintain vitamin D levels and effectiveness in the bodies of adults and children with SLE compared with healthy individuals. In this study we will examine inherited differences in the genes responsible for the action and effectiveness of vitamin D in the body, and their association with SLE risk. We will also examine how these differences in vitamin D related genes are associated with different symptoms of SLE. We will analyze previously collected adult SLE patient and family data, along with data on healthy controls, from the CIHR supported Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CaNIOS) and Genetic and Environmental factors in Systemic lupus erythematosus (GenES) studies. We will also recruit children with SLE from SickKids Hospital in Toronto. We will record age, gender, ethnicity as well as information on sun exposure and the features of SLE. Lab data will include DNA samples, markers of inflammation and vitamin D levels. The results of this project will build on existing knowledge and health research initiatives to provide more information on the role of vitamin D in systemic lupus erythematosus, and potentially reveal genetic risk factors related to vitamin D.