title: Soluble fas and the -670 polymorphism of fas in lupus nephritis.
abstract: This study was performed to clarify the role of soluble Fas (sFas) in lupus nephritis (LN) and establish a potential relationship between LN and the -670 polymorphism of Fas in 67 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including a subset of 24 LN patients with proteinuria. Additionally, a group of 54 healthy subjects (HS) was included. The allelic frequency of the -670 polymorphism of Fas was determined using PCR-RFLP analysis, and sFas levels were assessed by ELISA. Additionally, the WT-1 protein level in urine was measured. The Fas receptor was determined in biopsies by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (FISH) and apoptotic features by TUNEL. Results. The -670 Fas polymorphism showed that the G allele was associated with increased SLE susceptibility, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.86. The sFas was significantly higher in LN patients with the G/G genotype, and this subgroup exhibited correlations between the sFas level and proteinuria and increased urinary WT-1 levels. LN group shows increased expression of Fas and apoptotic features. In conclusion, our results indicate that the G allele of the -670 polymorphism of Fas is associated with genetic susceptibility in SLE patients with elevated levels of sFas in LN with proteinuria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorios de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, UA Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 98040 Zacatecas, ZAC, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bollain-Y-Goytia
authors.affiliation: Laboratorios de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, UA Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 98040 Zacatecas, ZAC, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arellano-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorios de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, UA Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 98040 Zacatecas, ZAC, Mexico.
authors.forename: Felipe de Jesús
authors.initials: Fde J
authors.lastname: Torres-Del-Muro
authors.affiliation: Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad (UMAE) HPG No. 48, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), 37320 León, GTO, Mexico.
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daza-Benítez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, 45178 Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico.
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Valle
authors.affiliation: Laboratorios de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, UA Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 98040 Zacatecas, ZAC, Mexico.
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avalos-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Laboratorios de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, UA Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, 98040 Zacatecas, ZAC, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrera-Esparza