Centrally Acting ACE Inhibition in SLE

SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease that often involves multiple systems and organs of the body. An autoimmune disease is one which your immune system attacks the cells and tissues in different parts of the body. SLE is characterized by inflammation that leads to tissue damage in many different organ systems. Lupus can cause fever, joint pains, rashes, and other symptoms. It can also affect organs such as the skin, the muscles, the kidneys, the heart, the lungs, the blood and the brain. The exact cause of SLE is not known.

Problems with memory and concentration are common in lupus; these problems are called cognitive problems. Cognitive problems can be caused by things like depression, fatigue, medication and infections. However, previous studies that have been done in animal models of lupus and in lupus patients suggest that inflammation due to lupus can affect the brain directly.

This research study is being done to test the effects of centrally-acting ACE inhibitor, named lisinopril, on resting metabolism in the brain and on cognitive function. The investigators will see if Lisinopril will decrease resting metabolism in the brain and improve cognitive function (memory and concentration) compared to a non-centrally acting ACE inhibitor called benazepril.

The study is a randomized, double blind, controlled, multi-center clinical trial to test the efficacy of a CA-ACEi, lisinopril, compared to a nonCA-ACEi, benazepril, for CI in SLE as measured by improvement in regional resting brain hypermetabolism and cognitive testing. The study will also investigate the impact of CA-ACEi compared to nonCA-ACEi on microglia cell activation as measured by PBR28 binding, behavioral function, circulating inflammatory cytokines and whole blood gene expression. The target population is SLE subjects between the ages of 18 and 55 that have stable disease activity and have no history of active or prior CNS disease of any kind. If applicable, subjects must be on stable doses of corticosteroids (less than or equal to 10 mg daily of prednisone) and non-increasing doses of other immunosuppressive medications for at least 4 weeks prior to screening.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject must be able to understand and provide informed consent
2. Subjects must be ≥18 and ≤65 years of age: subjects with age \> 65 will be excluded to avoid confounding effects of age on cognitive testing.
3. Subjects must fulfill the 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) revised criteria for the diagnosis of SLE or the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Criteria or the EULAR/ ACR 2019 criteria for SLE.
4. Subjects must have stable disease activity and medication doses for 4 weeks prior to screening. Stable disease activity is defined as no increase in disease activity requiring an increase or addition of immunosuppressive medications.
5. If on corticosteroids, subjects must be on a dose that is ≤ prednisone 10 mg daily, or the equivalent.
6. Must have increased resting metabolism in the posterior putamen/GP/thalamus on the screening FDG-PET scan that is

   * \> 1.647 for non-Black SLE subjects and
   * \> 1.699 for Black SLE subjects.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability or unwillingness of a participant to give written informed consent or comply with study protocol.
2. History of neurological diseases including, but not limited to, severe head injury or history of brain surgery, stroke, seizure, toxic exposure, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, dementia, encephalitis.
3. History of documented transient ischemic attacks within 6 months of screening.
4. Addition of belimumab or rituximab within 3 months of screening and/or addition of disease modifying drugs (such as mycophenolate, methotrexate, azathioprine, leflunomide, voclosporin, tacrolimus) within 3 months of screening.
5. History of illicit drug or alcohol dependence/abuse within the past 12 months.
6. Current use of anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant or antipsychotic medications other than specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and gabapentin. SSRIs are allowed if the subject is on a stable dose for 12 weeks prior to the screening FDG-PET scan and is expected to remain on the same SSRI throughout the trial. Gabapentin is allowed if used on a PRN basis for pain or reason other than seizure disorder and the subject is willing not to take it for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to brain imaging or neuropsychological assessments.
7. Current and/or chronic use of narcotic analgesia for \> 3 weeks within the last 3 months.
8. Increased disease activity within 4 weeks of screening defined by an increase in SLEDAI by 3 points or more, exclusive of points from serologies, which prompts an increase in or new addition of SLE medications.
9. History of a diagnosis of a primary psychiatric disorder requiring medication that preceded the diagnosis of SLE.
10. Current active acute infections requiring antibiotics within 2 weeks of screening and chronic known infections (eg. hepatitis B, C, and/or HIV).
11. Co-existing other autoimmune disease(s) other than autoimmune thyroid disease or secondary Sjogren's Syndrome.
12. Pregnant and/or lactating women and/or women unwilling to use an acceptable form of contraception.
13. The presence of uncontrolled, severe hypertension, diabetes or heart disease.
14. History of hereditary or idiopathic angioedema.
15. Impaired renal function with an eGFR\< 60%.
16. Current use of aliskiren in diabetic patients.
17. Current use of naltrexone or chronic minocycline use; both are agents also known to alter microglia activation.
18. Use of a centrally acting ACE inhibitor (Lisinopril, fosinopril, ramipril, captopril, perindopril, prinivil, monopril, trandolapril) or angiotensin receptor blocker for more than 4 weeks within the past 1 year. Non-centrally acting ACE inhibitors are allowed if the subject is willing to be randomized to Lisinopril or benazepril instead of their non-centrally acting ACE inhibitor.
19. Known intolerance to ACE inhibitors.
20. Presence of any active medical condition that in the opinion of the investigator may contribute to cognitive and/or behavioral disturbances.
21. Use of investigational drugs within 30 days or 5 half-lives before Visit 1 (Day 1), whichever is longer.

Past or current medical problems or findings from physical examination or laboratory testing that are not listed above, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may pose additional risks from participation in the study, may interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study requirements or that may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study.

23. A systolic blood pressure less than 100 mmHg at screening. If the investigator feels that the patient is insufficiently hydrated, the patient may be re-evaluated for blood pressure within the screening period.

24. Current treatment with Cyclophosphamide. 25. The presence of suicidal ideation on the Beck Depression Inventory at screening or sufficient depressive symptoms to warrant intervention with pharmacologic therapy and/or referral for treatment.

26. For subjects consenting to the MRI scans: the presence of ferromagnetic implants or devices that cannot be removed and/or a history of claustrophobia or intolerance of MRI.