title: Increased serum β2-microglobulin is associated with clinical and immunological markers of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between serum levels of β2-microglobulin (β2MG), which some studies suggest reflect disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and various clinical and immunological markers of disease activity in SLE. Twenty-six SLE patients and 10 healthy controls were included. Disease activity was assessed by: SLEDAI, 24 hr-proteinuria, circulating levels of complement C3, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), β2MG and various pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18) measured with a multiplex assay, IFN-α assessed with a reporter gene assay, and a combined expression score of 12 IFN-α inducible genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Median serum levels of β2MG were significantly higher in SLE patients vs controls (2.8 mg/L, range: 1.1-21.6 and 1.2 mg/L, range: 0.9-1.7, respectively, p < 0.001). β2MG was correlated with SLEDAI score (R = 0.68, p < 0.001), 24 hr-proteinuria (R = 0.64, p < 0.001), and complement C3 (R = -0.52, p = 0.007). The cytokines were significantly correlated with β2MG: IL-6 (R = 0.45, p = 0.02), IL-8 (R = 0.75, p < 0.001), IL-10 (R = 0.67, p < 0.001) and IL-18 (R = 0.71, p < 0.001) as were serum IFN-α (R = 0.45, p = 0.02) and the IFN-α inducible gene-score (R = 0.51, p = 0.01). The results support that β2MG may serve as a marker of disease activity in SLE. The correlations with the measured cytokines indicate that increased β2MG in SLE reflects immunological activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. mlfhermansen@gmail.com
authors.forename: M-L F
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hermansen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hummelshøj
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lundsgaard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hornum
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleckner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D003176:Complement C3; D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin