Published in:
01-05-2020 | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus | Original Article
Elevated serum interleukin-34 level in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and disease activity
Published in: Clinical Rheumatology | Issue 5/2020
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Aim of the work
To determine the role of Interleukin-34 (IL-34) in the pathogenesis of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (J-SLE), by exploring the relationship between IL-34 concentration and the disease activity
Subjects and methods
This study was carried out on 48 children with SLE, and 30 healthy control subjects. SLE disease activity was measured by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI). Serum IL-34 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS program version 16.0.
Results
There was a significant elevation in IL-34 concentration in J-SLE patients (52.25 ± 19.94 pg/ml) compared with control group (11.20 ± 6.40 pg/ml) (p < 0.001). The highest level was detected in patients with high SLEDAI score and with lupus nephritis (p = 0.005, 0.003, respectively). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between IL-34 levels and SLEDAI, ESR, CRP, and anti-ds DNA antibodies, but negative correlation with complement (C3, C4), and hemoglobin levels in J-SLE patients.
Conclusion
IL-34 could be a probable marker for J-SLE disease activity which is more aggressive than adult-SLE, and IL-34 blockage may suppress the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in patients’ blood.
Key Points •Juvenile SLE is more aggressive and of worse prognosis than adult-SLE. • Significantly elevated concentration of IL-34 in juvenile SLE patients when compared with controls. • Elevated concentrations of IL-34 in patients are correlated with SLEDAI, ESR, CRP, ds-DNA antibodies, hemoglobin, and complement levels. • IL-34 may play a role in SLE pathogenesis and disease activity. |