Background/Purpose: The endothelium is a key element in the regulation of vascular homeostasis and its alteration is a precursor of vascular disease. Considering SLE is a systemic autoimmune disease with potentiated extensive vascular lesions, such as skin vessels, renal glomeruli, the cardiovascular system, brain, lung alveoli, and gastrointestinal tract vessels. We aimed to assess serum levels of endothelial function related biomarkers including Ang1, Ang2, adam13, VEGF, Tie-2 and thrombomodulin in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and elucidate its correlation with clinical features, laboratory parameters, and the overall disease activity.
Methods: Disease activities were evaluated by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Patient characteristics were obtained by retrospective chart review. Laboratory investigations included complete blood count, urine analysis, 24-h total urinary protein, assay of serum creatinine, ANA, anti-DNA, complement component C3, C4. Six biomarkers associated with endothelial function were tested through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement.
Results: This study comprised 80 children and adolescents with SLE. Serum levels of VEGF and Tie-2 were significantly increased in active SLE patients when compared with inactive SLE patients (p <0.05). Angiopoietin-2 and Tie-2 serum levels were significantly increased in patients with low complement levels (P< 0.05). Although serum levels of Angiopoietin-1 and -2 were higher in active SLE patients when compared with inactive SLE patients, the difference did not reach statistical significance. While levels of VEGF, angiopoietin-2, and Tie-2 show no differences between patients with and without renal involvement (p > 0.05), serum angiopoietin-1 levels was negatively associated with neurological involvement (P< 0.05). Additionally, SLEDAI score positively associated with thrombomodulin levels (P< 0.05); and negatively associated with VW factor levels (P<0.05). SLEDAI score positively correlated to serum levels of VEGF, Antiopotitin-2, and Tie-2 (P>0.05) without statistical significance.
Conclusion: These six serum markers may be relevant to SLE pathogenesis. Its serum level seems to be potent biomarker for SLE activity as well as organ involvement. These biomarkers may be beneficial in disease monitoring and planning of future therapy.

« Back to 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/biomarkers-associating-endothelial-function-in-systemic-lupus-erythematous/