API

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Relationship: 2023

Title

A descriptive phrase which clearly defines the two KEs being considered and the sequential relationship between them (i.e., which is upstream, and which is downstream). More help

Increase of autoantibody production leads to Exacerbation of SLE

Upstream event
The causing Key Event (KE) in a Key Event Relationship (KER). More help
Increase of autoantibody production
Downstream event
The responding Key Event (KE) in a Key Event Relationship (KER). More help
Exacerbation of SLE

Key Event Relationship Overview

The utility of AOPs for regulatory application is defined, to a large extent, by the confidence and precision with which they facilitate extrapolation of data measured at low levels of biological organisation to predicted outcomes at higher levels of organisation and the extent to which they can link biological effect measurements to their specific causes.Within the AOP framework, the predictive relationships that facilitate extrapolation are represented by the KERs. Consequently, the overall WoE for an AOP is a reflection in part, of the level of confidence in the underlying series of KERs it encompasses. Therefore, describing the KERs in an AOP involves assembling and organising the types of information and evidence that defines the scientific basis for inferring the probable change in, or state of, a downstream KE from the known or measured state of an upstream KE. More help

AOPs Referencing Relationship

AOP Name Adjacency Weight of Evidence Quantitative Understanding Point of Contact Author Status OECD Status
Binding to estrogen receptor (ER)-α in immune cells leading to exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) adjacent Moderate Moderate Cataia Ives (send email) Under development: Not open for comment. Do not cite Under Development

Taxonomic Applicability

Latin or common names of a species or broader taxonomic grouping (e.g., class, order, family) that help to define the biological applicability domain of the KER.In general, this will be dictated by the more restrictive of the two KEs being linked together by the KER.  More help

Sex Applicability

An indication of the the relevant sex for this KER. More help

Life Stage Applicability

An indication of the the relevant life stage(s) for this KER.  More help

Key Event Relationship Description

Provides a concise overview of the information given below as well as addressing details that aren’t inherent in the description of the KEs themselves. More help

The presence of many autoantibodies is a hallmark of SLE. In particular, autoantibodies directed to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) are characteristic (Isenberg DA. 2007).  SLE patients appear to produce significant amounts of the anti-dsDNA autoantibodies that cause the disease.  Anti-dsDNA antibody exists even in healthy people, but in SLE patients, an increase in anti-dsDNA antibody has been observed and is also used for definitive diagnosis of SLE.  Activation of autoantibody-producing B cells only serves to exacerbate that condition.

Evidence Collection Strategy

Include a description of the approach for identification and assembly of the evidence base for the KER. For evidence identification, include, for example, a description of the sources and dates of information consulted including expert knowledge, databases searched and associated search terms/strings.  Include also a description of study screening criteria and methodology, study quality assessment considerations, the data extraction strategy and links to any repositories/databases of relevant references.Tabular summaries and links to relevant supporting documentation are encouraged, wherever possible. More help

Evidence Map 2.0

ID Experimental Design Species Upstream Observation Downstream Observation Citation (first author, year) Notes

Evidence Map

Addresses the scientific evidence supporting KERs in an AOP setting the stage for overall assessment of the AOP. More help
Title First Author
Biological Plausibility
Dose Concordance
Temporal Concordance
Incidence Concordance
Biological Plausibility
Dose Concordance Evidence
Temporal Concordance Evidence
Incidence Concordance Evidence
Uncertainties and Inconsistencies
Addresses inconsistencies or uncertainties in the relationship including the identification of experimental details that may explain apparent deviations from the expected patterns of concordance. More help

Stat6-deficient New Zealand Mixed (NZM) 2328 mice display a significant reduction in incidence of kidney disease, with a dramatic increase in survival, despite the presence of high levels of anti-dsDNA Abs same like the wild-type NZM 2328 animals (Chaim O. 2003).  In NZM 2410 mice, STAT6 deficiency or anti-IL-4 Ab treatment decreases type 2 cytokine responses and ameliorates kidney disease, particularly glomerulosclerosis, despite the presence of high levels of IgG anti-dsDNA Abs same like the wild-type littermates or PBS-treated controls (Ram RS. 2003).  Anti-dsDNA antibodies are not what we think they are, as they may be antibodies operational in quite different biological contexts, although they bind dsDNA by chance.  This may not mean that these antibodies are not pathogenic but they do not inform how they are so (Ole PR. 2019).  In other words, might be that the high levels of anti-dsDNA Abs does not always exacerbate SLE.

Known modulating factors

This table captures specific information on the MF, its properties, how it affects the KER and respective references.1.) What is the modulating factor? Name the factor for which solid evidence exists that it influences this KER. Examples: age, sex, genotype, diet 2.) Details of this modulating factor. Specify which features of this MF are relevant for this KER. Examples: a specific age range or a specific biological age (defined by...); a specific gene mutation or variant, a specific nutrient (deficit or surplus); a sex-specific homone; a certain threshold value (e.g. serum levels of a chemical above...) 3.) Description of how this modulating factor affects this KER. Describe the provable modification of the KER (also quantitatively, if known). Examples: increase or decrease of the magnitude of effect (by a factor of...); change of the time-course of the effect (onset delay by...); alteration of the probability of the effect; increase or decrease of the sensitivity of the downstream effect (by a factor of...) 4.) Provision of supporting scientific evidence for an effect of this MF on this KER. Give a list of references.  More help

The Th1/Th2 shift is one of the most important immunologic changes during the menstrual cycle and gestation.  Immune activity shifts across the menstrual cycle, with higher follicular-phase Th1 cell activity and higher luteal-phase Th2 cell activity (Tierney KL. 2015).  This is due to the progressive increase of estrogens, which reach peak level in the third trimester of pregnancy.  At these high levels, estrogens suppress the Th1-mediated responses and stimulate Th2-mediated immunologic responses (Doria A. 2006).  Incidence of flare in patients with SLE is increased during pregnancy and within the 3-months postpartum (Amanda E. 2018). 

Domain of Applicability

A free-text section of the KER description that the developers can use to explain their rationale for the taxonomic, life stage, or sex applicability structured terms. More help

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