Systemic lupus (SL) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear antigens, particularly native double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and excessive production of antiviral cytokines: type I interferons, particularly interferon alpha (IFN-α). IFN-α production results from the excessive detection of nucleic acids (DNA or Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)) by endosomal or intracytoplasmic receptors that are capable of inducing interferon production. The precise mechanisms of cytoplasmic sensor activation remain unknown; however, recent work in the field of interferonopathies suggests a role for human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). HERVs are remnants of ancient infections caused by exogenous retroviruses integrated into the genome during evolution and represent 8% of the human genome.Several studies have suggested a role for HERVs in the development and maintenance of an excessive immune response in lupus patients and other autoimmune diseases by affecting the type I interferons (I IFN) signalling pathway.
To date, none of the approved immunosuppressive drugs for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) have been shown to be effective in the background treatment of SL or in preventing relapse. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify new molecules and therapeutic avenues for disease-modifying therapies.
In this study, an innovative therapeutic strategy using a combination of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), abacavir/lamivudine, is proposed to treat SLE. Thus, we propose a pilot Phase II, randomized, open-label study using NRTIs in patients with SL in remission or with low clinical activity, and evaluating a biological endpoint (IFN signature), which is a direct proxy for the drug's expected effect.
The main objective is to compare the addition of Abacavir/Lamivudine (Add-on) to standard care for 6 months, on the value of the interferon (IFN) transcriptomic signature of patients with systemic lupus with low activity as defined by the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS).
