Adenovirus viremia might not be a risk factor for Systemic lupus erythematosus, a study at south of Iran

Viruses are among the most infectious agents thought to contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders. Adenoviruses, in particular, are widely utilized for various applications, including gene therapy, vaccine vectors, and oncolytic treatments, highlighting the importance of understanding their biological effects on the human body. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, multi-organ autoimmune disorder predominantly affecting adult females. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of adenovirus infections in individuals diagnosed with SLE. The study included 190 SLE patients and 60 healthy individuals, matched for age and gender. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples. Adenoviral DNA was detected using a SYBR-Green-based Real-Time PCR method with primers targeting all human-related adenoviral serotypes. Adenovirus DNA was detected in 41 (21.5%) SLE patients and 15 (25%) among the healthy individuals healthy subjects, but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Also, no significant difference was shown between different SLE age groups (<25, 25-50, >50; p>0.05). Furthermore, the comparison of threshold cycles (CTs) revealed no significant differences between SLE patients and healthy subjects (CT= 34.6 ± 2.4 and 34.3 ± 1.6, respectively; p=0.23). This study indicated that adenovirus infection might not be a risk factor for the development of SLE among Iranian individuals. W found no difference in the prevalence of DNAemia between SLE patients among the three age groups (<25, 25-50, >50), which further validates the lack of association between adenovirus infection and the occurrence of SLE.