title: Elevated serum MFG-E8 level is possibly associated with the presence of high-intensity cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Human milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 (MFG-E8), also known as lactadherin, is a secreted glycoprotein that plays essential roles in the clearance of apoptotic cells and angiogenesis. It has been reported that serum MFG-E8 levels are higher in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared with in healthy controls; however, a previous study reported no correlation between serum MFG-E8 levels and SLE disease activity. The objective of this study was to assess serum MFG-E8 levels and their clinical associations in patients with SLE. Serum MFG-E8 levels in 49 Japanese patients with SLE, eight with cutaneous LE, and 28 healthy controls were examined. Serum MFG-E8 levels in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in cutaneous LE patients and healthy individuals. In addition, serum MFG-E8 levels were positively correlated with the SLE Disease Activity Index score, which reflects the disease activity of SLE. Notably, the frequency of the presence of high-intensity cerebral lesions on MRI in the SLE patients with elevated serum MFG-E8 levels was significantly higher than that in SLE patients with normal serum MFG-E8 levels. These findings suggest that elevated serum MFG-E8 levels may be associated with cerebrovascular diseases or neuropsychiatric SLE in patients with SLE, and that the measurement of serum MFG-E8 levels in SLE patients is useful for risk stratification of cerebrovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease-related neuropsychiatric SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Sei-Ichiro
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Motegi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000097:blood*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020945:Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; C098942:MFGE8 protein, human; D008894:Milk Proteins
keywords: MFG-E8; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; cerebrovascular disease; neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic lupus erythematosus