title: Elevated serum anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies titer is associated with lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease associated with endothelial dysfunction and the existence of multiple species of autoantibodies. However, the association between endothelial dysfunction and renal manifestations remains unclear in Taiwanese SLE patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected from SLE patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis (n = 32), stable SLE patients (n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 32). The SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) of SLE patients was scored, and levels of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) and anti-endothelial activities in serum samples were measured by cell-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and crystal violet assay, respectively, using cultured human endothelial EA.hy926 cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher AECA (p<0.001) and anti-endothelial activities (p<0.001) were found in sera from patients with lupus nephritis compared with that from stable SLE patients or controls. Moreover, AECA titers (p<0.001) and anti-endothelial activities (p<0.001) were strongly correlated with SLEDAI scores in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strong correlations of AECA and anti-endothelial activity with lupus nephritis activity support an endothelial origin for renal complications in Taiwanese SLE patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Ling Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Rieh Jien
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chien Kai
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kau
authors.forename: He Hsiung
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Pey Ru
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chien Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hui Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hing Chung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Ming Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; C087589:anti-endothelial cell antibody