RESEARCH - Serum levels of TNF family members APRIL and BLyS are inversely correlated in SLE

[Guest guest]

Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 2 August 2008.

doi:10.1136/ard.2008.090928

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extended Report

Serum levels of TNF family members APRIL and BLyS are inversely

correlated in SLE

Jacques Morel 1*, Camille Roubille 1, Lourdes Planelles 2, Cecilia

Rocha 3, Letiticia Fernandez 4, Cédric Lukas 1, Hahne 4 and

Bernard Combe 1

1 Service d'Immuno-Rhumatologie Université Montpellier 1 et CHU

Montpellier, France

2 Dept. Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Spain

3 Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz

Foundation, Brazil

4 Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRS UMR5535, France

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether serum levels of a

proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are altered in patients with

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and correlate with disease

parameters.

Methods: Clinical and biological parameters were analyzed for 43

patients that fulfilled American College of Rheumatology (ACR)

criteria for SLE classification and were positive for anti dsDNA

antibodies at least once in their medical record. Tests included

measurement of serum levels of the TNF family members APRIL and B

lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS, a cytokine shown to promote SLE disease).

Results: Median APRIL levels were elevated in SLE patients compared to

osteoarthritis patients and healthy controls, but did not correlate

with the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). APRIL serum levels

showed an inverse correlation with BLyS serum levels (r = 0.339; p =

0.03). For SLE patients with positive anti-double-stranded DNA

(anti-dsDNA) titers (> 40 UA/ml) at inclusion (n = 25), circulating

APRIL was inversely correlated with BLyS levels (r = -0.465; p =

0.022) and anti-dsDNA antibody titers (r = -0.411; p = 0.046). In a

follow-up study at their second visit, 27 patients showed an inverse

correlation with BLyS (r = 0.398; p = 0.03) and anti-dsDNA (r =

-0.408; p = 0.03) titers, as well as an inverse correlation of APRIL

serum levels with SLEDAI (r = -0.408; p = 0.01).

Conclusion: The inverse correlation observed between APRIL and BLyS

suggests that APRIL acts as a protective factor. APRIL and BLyS may

thus have opposite roles in SLE, which must be considered when

defining therapeutic applications of these cytokines.

http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/ard.2008.090928v1?papetoc

--

Not an MD