title: Ficolins and the lectin pathway of complement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The complement system plays a pathophysiological role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aims to investigate whether an association exists between the ficolins that are part of the lectin complement pathway and SLE. EDTA plasma samples from 68 Danish SLE patients and 29 healthy donors were included in the study. Plasma concentrations of Ficolin-1, -2, and -3 were determined in specific sandwich ELISAs. Lectin pathway activity via Ficolin-3 was measured in ELISA on acetylated bovine serum albumin (acBSA) and measured as Ficolin-3 binding and deposition of C4, C3 and the terminal complement complex (TCC). SLE patients had increased levels of Ficolin-3, 21.6μg/ml as compared to 17.0μg/ml in healthy controls (P=0.0098). The Ficolin-1 plasma concentration was negatively correlated with SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (Rho=-0.29, P=0.015) and positively correlated to the [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index] (SDI) (Rho=0.27, P=0.026). The Ficolin-1 concentration was also associated with the occurrence of arterial (P=0.0053) but not venous thrombosis (P=0.42). Finally, deposition of C4, C3 and TCC in the Ficolin-3 pathway were all correlated to SLEDAI, respectively (P<0.0076). The Ficolin-1 association to SLEDAI and SDI as well as arterial thrombosis shown in this study suggests that Ficolin-1 may be a potential new biomarker for patients with SLE. Furthermore, Ficolin-3 mediated complement activation may be valuable in monitoring disease activity in SLE patients due to the high sensitivity for complement consumption in the assay independent of the Ficolin-3 concentration.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Immunology, Section 7631, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Estrid
authors: E
authors: Hein
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Immunology, Section 7631, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Louise Aas
authors: LA
authors: Nielsen
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Christoffer T
authors: CT
authors: Nielsen
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Immunology, Section 7631, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Lea
authors: L
authors: Munthe-Fog
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Immunology, Section 7631, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Mikkel-Ole
authors: MO
authors: Skjoedt
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Søren
authors: S
authors: Jacobsen
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Immunology, Section 7631, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: garred@post5.tele.dk.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Garred
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin; D003710:Demography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D000097604:Ficolins
keywords: Arterial thrombosis; Complement; Ficolins; Lectin pathway; SLE; SLEDAI