@article{186486,
  keywords = {Humans, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Adult, Treatment Outcome, TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases, T-Lymphocytes, Severity of Illness Index, Acetylcysteine, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Double-Blind Method, Free Radical Scavengers, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial, Pilot Projects, Placebos},
  author = {Zhi-Wei Lai and Robert Hanczko and Eduardo Bonilla and Tiffany Caza and Brandon Clair and Adam Bartos and Gabriella Miklossy and John Jimah and Edward Doherty and Hajra Tily and Lisa Francis and Ricardo Garcia and Maha Dawood and Jianghong Yu and Irene Ramos and Ioana Coman and Stephen Faraone and Paul Phillips and Andras Perl},
  title = {N-acetylcysteine reduces disease activity by blocking mammalian target of rapamycin in T cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial},
  abstract = {<p>OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients exhibit T cell dysfunction, which can be regulated through mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by glutathione (GSH). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to examine the safety, tolerance, and efficacy of the GSH precursor N-acetylcysteine (NAC). METHODS: A total of 36 SLE patients received either daily placebo or 1.2 gm, 2.4 gm, or 4.8 gm of NAC. Disease activity was evaluated monthly by the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index, the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) before, during, and after a 3-month treatment period. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential and mTOR were assessed by flow cytometry. Forty-two healthy subjects matched to patients for age, sex, and ethnicity were studied as controls. RESULTS: NAC up to 2.4 gm/day was tolerated by all patients, while 33\% of those receiving 4.8 gm/day had reversible nausea. Placebo or NAC 1.2 gm/day did not influence disease activity. Considered together, 2.4 gm and 4.8 gm NAC reduced the SLEDAI score after 1 month (P = 0.0007), 2 months (P = 0.0009), 3 months (P = 0.0030), and 4 months (P = 0.0046); the BILAG score after 1 month (P = 0.029) and 3 months (P = 0.009); and the FAS score after 2 months (P = 0.0006) and 3 months (P = 0.005). NAC increased Δψm (P = 0.0001) in all T cells, profoundly reduced mTOR activity (P = 0.0009), enhanced apoptosis (P = 0.0004), reversed expansion of CD4-CD8- T cells (mean {\textpm} SEM 1.35 {\textpm} 0.12-fold change; P = 0.008), stimulated FoxP3 expression in CD4+CD25+ T cells (P = 0.045), and reduced anti-DNA production (P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that NAC safely improves lupus disease activity by blocking mTOR in T lymphocytes.</p>
},
  year = {2012},
  journal = {Arthritis Rheum},
  volume = {64},
  pages = {2937-46},
  month = {09/2012},
  issn = {1529-0131},
  doi = {10.1002/art.34502},
  language = {eng},
}