Expression of LRG-1 in mice with hypertensive renal damage and its significance / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVES@#Long-term elevated blood pressure may lead to kidney damage, yet the pathogenesis of hypertensive kidney damage is still unclear. This study aims to explore the role and significance of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG-1) in hypertensive renal damage through detecting the levels of LRG-1 in the serum and kidney of mice with hypertensive renal damage and its relationship with related indexes.@*METHODS@#C57BL/6 mice were used in this study and randomly divided into a control group, an angiotensin II (Ang II) group, and an Ang II+irbesartan group. The control group was gavaged with physiological saline. The Ang II group was pumped subcutaneously at a rate of 1.5 mg/(kg·d) for 28 days to establish the hypertensive renal damage model in mice, and then gavaged with equivalent physiological saline. The Ang II+irbesartan group used the same method to establish the hypertensive renal damage model, and then was gavaged with irbesartan. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of LRG-1 and fibrosis-related indicators (collagen I and fibronectin) in renal tissues. ELISA was used to evaluate the level of serum LRG-1 and inflammatory cytokines in mice. The urinary protein-creatinine ratio and renal function were determined, and correlation analysis was conducted.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the levels of serum LRG-1, the expression of LRG-1 protein, collagen I, and fibronectin in kidney in the Ang II group were increased (all P<0.01). After treating with irbesartan, renal damage of hypertensive mice was alleviated, while the levels of LRG-1 in serum and kidney were decreased, and the expression of collagen I and fibronectin was down-regulated (all P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the level of serum LRG-1 was positively correlated with urinary protein-creatinine ratio, blood urea nitrogen, and blood creatinine level in hypertensive kidney damage mice. Serum level of LRG-1 was also positively correlated with serum inflammatory factors including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Hypertensive renal damage mice display elevated expression of LRG-1 in serum and kidney, and irbesartan can reduce the expression of LRG-1 while alleviating renal damage. The level of serum LRG-1 is positively correlated with the degree of hypertensive renal damage, suggesting that it may participate in the occurrence and development of hypertensive renal damage.

Usefulness of Serum Leucine-Rich Alpha-2 Glycoprotein as a Disease Activity Biomarker in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Our study aimed to investigate whether serum leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG) levels are elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, we assessed their correlation with disease activity parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Our study included 69 patients with RA and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and LRG were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum LRG concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with RA compared with those in healthy controls (30.8+/-14.4 vs. 22.2+/-6.1 ng/mL; P or =2.6) were significantly higher than those in remission (DAS28<2.6) (36.45+/-14.36 vs. 24.63+/-8.81 ng/mL; P<0.001). Our findings suggest that serum LRG could contribute to the inflammatory process independent of TNF-alpha and it may be a novel biomarker for assessing inflammatory activity in patients with RA.

Usefulness of Serum Leucine-Rich Alpha-2 Glycoprotein as a Disease Activity Biomarker in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Our study aimed to investigate whether serum leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG) levels are elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In addition, we assessed their correlation with disease activity parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Our study included 69 patients with RA and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and LRG were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum LRG concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with RA compared with those in healthy controls (30.8+/-14.4 vs. 22.2+/-6.1 ng/mL; P or =2.6) were significantly higher than those in remission (DAS28<2.6) (36.45+/-14.36 vs. 24.63+/-8.81 ng/mL; P<0.001). Our findings suggest that serum LRG could contribute to the inflammatory process independent of TNF-alpha and it may be a novel biomarker for assessing inflammatory activity in patients with RA.