title: BLyS levels in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: clinical and serological correlation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by disturbance of the innate and adaptive immune systems with the production of autoantibodies by stimulated B lymphocytes. The BLyS protein (B lymphocyte stimulator) is secreted mainly by monocytes and activated T cells and is responsible for the proliferation, maturation and survival of B cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study sera BLyS level and its clinical significance in Israeli lupus patients overtime.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 41 lupus patients (8 males, 33 females; mean age 35.56 +/- 15.35 years) and 50 healthy controls. The patients were followed for 5.02 +/- 1.95 years. We tested 221 lupus sera (mean 5.4 samples/patient) and 50 normal sera for BLyS levels by a capture ELISA. Disease activity was determined by the SLEDAI score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sera BLyS levels were significantly higher in SLE patients than in controls (3.37 +/- 3.73 vs. 0.32 +/- 0.96 ng/ml, P < 0.05). BLyS levels were high in at least one sera sample in 80.5% of the patients but were normal in all sera in the control group. There was no correlation between sera BLyS and anti-ds-DNA autoantibody levels. BLyS levels fluctuated over time in sera of lupus patients with no significant correlation to disease activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of our lupus patients had high sera BLyS levels, suggesting a role for BLyS in the pathogenesis and course of SLE. Our results support the current novel approach of targeting BLyS (neutralization by antibodies or soluble receptors) in the treatment of active lupus patients.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elbirt
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: Keren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahlab-Guri
authors.forename: Shira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bezalel-Rosenberg
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Edelstein
authors.forename: Zev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sthoeger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015551:Autoimmunity; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007557:Israel; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062072:Patient Acuity; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor