The aim of the experiment is, on the one hand, to identify and study the different cell populations from whole blood by flow cytometry and, on the other hand, to assay different cytokines in blood and urine samples from diseased (SLE) and control subjects (with non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases) in order to highlight and correlate the presence of biomarkers to disease activity or to a clinical manifestation of the disease.
In vitro studies will also be carried out on short-term cultures of PBMCs (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells).
