title: Proinflammatory adaptive cytokine and shed tumor necrosis factor receptor levels are elevated preceding systemic lupus erythematosus disease flare.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifaceted disease characterized by immune dysregulation and unpredictable disease activity. This study sought to evaluate the changes in plasma concentrations of soluble mediators that precede clinically defined disease flares.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two different soluble mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and soluble receptors, were examined using validated multiplex bead-based or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in plasma from 28 European American patients with SLE who developed disease flare 6 or 12 weeks after a baseline assessment (preflare), 28 matched SLE patients without impending flare (nonflare), and 28 matched healthy controls. In a subset of 13 SLE patients, mediators within samples obtained preceding disease flare were compared with those within samples from the same individual obtained during a clinically stable period without flare.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to SLE patients with clinically stable disease, SLE patients with impending flare had significant alterations (P ≤ 0.01) in the levels of 27 soluble mediators at baseline; specifically, the levels of proinflammatory mediators, including Th1-, Th2-, and Th17-type cytokines, were significantly higher several weeks before clinical flare. Baseline levels of regulatory cytokines, including interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor β, were higher in nonflare SLE patients, whereas baseline levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I (TNFRI), TNFRII, Fas, FasL, and CD40L were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.002) in preflare SLE patients. The normalized and weighted combined soluble mediator score was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0002) in preflare samples from SLE patients compared to samples from the same patients obtained during periods of stable disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of proinflammatory adaptive cytokines and shed TNF receptors are elevated prior to disease flare, while the levels of regulatory mediators are elevated during periods of stable disease. Alterations in the balance between inflammatory and regulatory mediators may help identify patients at risk of disease flare and help decipher the pathogenic mechanisms of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City.
authors.forename: Melissa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Munroe
authors.forename: Evan S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Vista
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guthridge
authors.forename: Linda F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Joan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: James
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D019014:fas Receptor; D023201:CD40 Ligand