Cytokines and Adhesion Molecules In Lupus Nephritis

¹Shirin S. Metwally, ²Amira A. Nasr, ³Samir Sally and ⁴Sameh Bahgat

¹Immunology Unit, Clinical Pathology Department, ²Internal Medicine, and ³Nephrology, Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University and ⁴Department of Internal Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF- a) and the soluble adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were measured using ELISA in 27 patients with lupus nephritis (L.N.), 13 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), 11 patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and 23 healthy subjects. Patients with L.N. had significantly higher levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules compared to controls (p < 0.001). Serum level of sVCAM-1 was significantly higher in patients with L.N. compared to those with FSGS (Mean ± SEM 2518.5 ± 165.7 vs 1827.3 ± 196.6 ng/ml p < 0.05). Patients with proliferative L.N. (n=13) had significantly higher levels of sVCAM-1 than those with non proliferative L.N. (n=14), (Mean ± SEM 2953.9 ± 246.4 vs 2114.3 ± 166.4 ng/ml, p = 0.008). Significant positive correlations were found between serum sVCAM-1 and the duration of treatment, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and chronicity index of lupus nephritic lesion (r=0.041, p £ 0.05, r = 0.61, p £ 0.01, r = 0.69 p £ 0.01 respectively), whereas a significant negative correlation was found between serum sVCAM-1 and complement3 (C3) levels in those patients (r= -0.58, p £ 0.01). We conclude that serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, sICAM-l and sVCAM-1 are elevated in patients with lupus nephritis. sVCAM-1 is much more elevated in patients with proliferative L.N. and it is positively correlated with SLEDAI and chronicity index of lupus nephritic lesions, therefore sVCAM-1 is thought to play an important role in the initiation, progression and chronicity of proliferative renal lesions in patients with lupus nephritis. Strategies to decrease the levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules most notably sVCAM-1, may constitute novel hopes for treatment of patients with active lupus nephritis.