title: Elevation of human tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is correlated with disease activity and lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a recently identified proinflammatory cytokine of the TNF superfamily. Studies have indicated that TWEAK plays an important role in renal, vascular injury and immune disease. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of the TWEAK in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and analyze the correlation between TWEAK and disease activity and renal damage of SLE. The expression of TWEAK in PBMCs was determined by RT-PCR and western blot. SLE disease activity was evaluated by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) 2000 score. Next were analyzed the correlations of TWEAK mRNA and protein to serum IL-10, MCP-1 and some laboratory parameters of SLE disease activity. Subjects comprised 48 patients with SLE including 25 patients with renal damage and 23 without, 20 patients with rheumatoid arthrithis (RA) and 15 healthy controls. The results showed that TWEAK expressions in PBMCs from SLE patients were significantly higher than that in RA patients or healthy controls, especially higher in those patients with renal disease. Elevated production of TWEAK is correlated positively and significantly with SLEDAI, proteinuria, serum anti-dsDNA, IL-10 and MCP-1, but inversely associated with serum complements. Our results suggested that TWEAK in PBMCs is positively related to SLE disease activity and might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Chun
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiao-Ling
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao-Zhao
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Pouranan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veeraragoo
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D016753:Interleukin-10