CYTOKINE PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Objective: to investigate the levels of cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and to determine their correlation with SLE activity and organ damage, as well as their changes during rituximab (RTM) therapy.

Subjects and methods. The trial enrolled 26 patients (5 men and 21 women) with a median (Me) age of 27 [range 23-40] years and a SLE duration of 9 to 300 months (Me 72 [range 36-108] months and 30 healthy donors marched with
the examinees for gender and age. Disease activity was assessed using the SLEDAI-2K index. The serum levels of 27 cytokines were measured utilizing X-MAP technologies on a BioPlex 200 device (Bio-Rad, USA). The patients were divided into 2 groups of 13 persons in each: lupus nephritis (LN) and no renal injury. All the patients included in the trial received RTM therapy.

Results. A statistically significant elevation in the concentrations of interleukin 13 (IL-13) and G-CSF was found in the patients with SLE versus the healthy control group (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). The LN group displayed a statistically significant increase in the concentrations of IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-13, and G-CSF as compared with the non-LN group (р = 0.039, р = 0.03, р = 0.037, р = 0.03, and р = 0.028, respectively). ROC analysis established the sensitivity and specificity of all indices in the LN group. The area under the ROC curve was equal for all indicators. The highest specificity of IL-13 (85%) was observed in the LN group. These cytokines other than that of IL13 (62%) showed the same sensitivity (70%).

Conclusion. The patients with LN had statistically significantly elevated concentrations of IL4, IL6, IL7, IL13, and G-CSF. The findings suggest that these cytokines are associated with VN.

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