The CXCL13 chemokine serves as a potential biomarker to diagnose
systemic lupus erythaematosus with disease activity
Abstract
Objectives: Our study purpose was to assess the regulatory response of
the chemokine CXCL13 in the serum of patients with systemic lupus
erythaematosus (SLE) and to evaluate its influence on the inflammatory
process in SLE. Methods: Serum samples from 97 SLE patients, 49 non-SLE
patients (23 patients with other autoimmune diseases and 26 patients
with rheumatoid arthritis ) and 50 healthy controls were analysed for
the concentration of CXCL13 using ELISA. Results: The results indicated
that the serum levels of CXCL13 were significantly higher in SLE
patients than in non-SLE patients and healthy controls
(p<0.001). Moreover, the level of CXCL13 decreased as the
level of anti-dsDNA IgG decreased after treatment between the
anti-dsDNA-positive SLE patients and the anti-dsDNA-negative SLE
patients. In addition, serum CXCL13 levels were correlated with SLEDAI
in different activities of SLE, renal involvement and active LN.
Furthermore, the level of CXCL13 was positively related to the
SLEDAI,level of anti-dsDNA IgG , level of ESR and RAI of high-avidity
IgG ANAs (HA IgG ANAs). Additionally, ROC curve analysis revealed that
the serum CXCL13 levels were robust in discriminating patients with
active SLE from patients with inactive SLE and SLE patients with
high-avidity IgG ANAs from SLE patients with low-avidity IgG ANAs.
Conclusions: First, we demonstrated that CXCL13 was elevated in SLE
patients regardless of the presence or absence of anti-dsDNA IgG ANAs.
Furthermore, HA IgG ANAs might affect the circulation of CXCL13.
Therefore, the chemokine CXCL13 might be a risk factor influencing the
inflammatory process in SLE.