Serum levels of ficolin-3 (Hakata antigen) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
Ficolin-3 is a serum protein of putative importance in autoimmunity. Our objective was to investigate any differential expression of ficolin-3 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or its clinical subsets.


METHODS
Serum levels of ficolin-3 (S-ficolin-3) were determined in 95 patients with SLE and 103 healthy controls using an ELISA.


RESULTS
Median S-ficolin-3 was 56.1 microg/ml (range 0 to >or=87.3) and 32.4 microg/ml (10 to >or=87.3) in patients and controls, respectively (p<0.001). Increased S-ficolin-3 was associated with hemolysis, positive Coombs test, and lymphopenia, but not with SLE Disease Activity Index scores or C-reactive protein. In one patient without detectable S-ficolin-3, the FCN3 gene appeared normal.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevation of S-ficolin-3 and its association with specific manifestations in SLE may indicate a pathogenetic role of ficolin-3 in SLE.
Andersen
Trine
T
Department of Clinical Immunology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Rheumatology, The University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, 4242, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark.
Munthe-Fog
Lea
L
Garred
Peter
P
Jacobsen
Søren
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
C109662:FCN3 protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins