The relationship between serum interleukin-17A, chemokine ligand 19 levels and disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum levels of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) and disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis.Methods:A total of 100 patients with lupus nephritis admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from June 2020 to February 2023 were collected as the disease group, according to the disease activity index, patients were grouped into inactive group (32 cases), mild active group (21 cases), moderate active group (29 cases), and severe active group (18 cases); another 100 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations in our hospital during the same period were collected as the control group. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the expression levels of IL-17A and CCL19 in serum; Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between serum IL-17A, CCL19 and routine indicators in patients with lupus nephritis; receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of serum IL-17A and CCL19 for moderate/severe lupus nephritis disease activity.Results:The expression levels of IL-17A and CCL19 in the serum of the disease group were obviously higher than those of the control group: (252.63 ± 64.47) ng/L vs. (123.27 ± 25.12) ng/L and (566.98 ± 73.36) ng/L vs. (275.63 ± 50.48) ng/L ( t = 18.70 and 32.72, P<0.05); the serum levels of IL-17A and CCL19 in the severe active, moderate active, and mild active groups were higher than those in the inactive group: (331.42 ± 87.46), (278.50 ± 74.19) and (232.34 ± 59.16) ng/L vs. (198.18 ± 46.22) ng/L; (662.33 ± 89.57), (606.14 ± 79.25) and (552.84 ± 68.36) ng/L vs. (487.13 ± 62.19) ng/L, and with the increase of disease activity, the levels of serum IL-17A and CCL19 gradually increased ( F = 17.86 and 25.35, P<0.05); the glomerular filtration rate, albumin, complement C 3 and complement C 4 in the active group were obviously lower than those in the inactive group: (69.17 ± 13.25) ml/(min·1.73 m 2) vs. (86.18 ± 14.16) ml/(min·1.73 m 2), (24.18 ± 5.11) g/L vs. (31.25 ± 6.35) g/L, (432.35 ± 95.22) mg/L vs. (675.42 ± 125.16) mg/L, (76.58 ± 17.51) mg/L vs. (121.42 ± 27.18) mg/L, while blood creatinine, urine protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were obviously higher than those in the inactive group: (92.34 ± 16.24) μmoI/L vs. (53.21 ± 9.17) μmoI/L, (3.43 ± 0.82) g/24 h vs. (1.26 ± 0.23) g/24 h, (66.37 ± 12.28) mm/1 h vs. (35.62 ± 8.67) mm/1 h ( t = 5.86, 5.97, 10.74, 9.93, 12.70, 14.67 and 12.74; P<0.05); serum IL-17A and CCL19 in patients with lupus nephritis were negatively correlated with glomerular filtration rate, albumin, complement C 3, and complement C 4, while positively correlated with blood creatinine, urine protein, and ESR ( P<0.05); the area under the curve (AUC) of the combined diagnosis of serum IL-17A and CCL19 for lupus nephritis disease activity was 0.961, which was superior to their respective individual diagnoses ( Z = 2.24 and 3.16, P = 0.025 and 0.002). Conclusions:The expression levels of IL-17A and CCL19 in serum gradually increase with the increase of disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis. The combined detection of the two has good diagnostic value for disease activity in lupus nephritis.

Effects of Yishen Gujing Kangyan Prescription on the Levels of Interleukin 18,Transforming Growth Factor β1,Anti-ds-DNA Antibody and Complement C3 in Patients with Lupus Nephritis of Qiand Yin Deficiency Type / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To investigate the clinical value of Yishen Gujing Kangyan Prescription(with the actions of benefiting the kidneys,consolidating essence and anti-inflammatory,mainly composed of Imperatae Rhizoma,Codonopsis Radix,Corni Fructus,Moutan Cortex,Lycii Fructus,Cuscutae Semen,Dioscoreae Rhizoma,honey-roasted Astragali Radix,Poria,Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata,etc.)in the treatment of lupus nephritis(LN)of qi and yin deficiency type.Methods A total of 116 patients with LN of qi and yin deficiency type were randomly divided into observation group and control group,58 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional western medicine treatment,and the observation group was treated with the combination of Yishen Gujing Kangyan Prescription on the basis of treatment for the control group.Both groups were treated for a period of 6 months.The changes of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scores,renal function parameters,immune function indicators,serum interleukin 18(IL-18),homocysteine(Hcy),transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),cystatin C(Cys C)levels in the two groups were observed before and after the treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and the negative-conversion of anti-double-stranded DNA(ds-DNA)antibody were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After 6 months of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 94.83%(55/58),and that of the control group was 75.86%(44/58).The intergroup comparison showed that the therapeutic effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(χ2 = 5.453,P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the scores of primary symptoms(edema,fatigue)and secondary symptoms(lumbar and knee soreness,loose stools)in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the effect on lowering the scores in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the levels of renal function parameters of blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinine(Scr),and 24-hour urine protein quantification of the two groups were all lower than those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the effect on lowering renal function parameters in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,serum IL-18,TGF-β1,Hcy and Cys C levels of the two groups of patients were all reduced compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the effect on lowering the levels of inflammatory factors and fibrosis parameters in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(5)After treatment,the levels of immune function indicators of T cell subsets CD4+,CD4+/CD8+ and complement C3 in the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the increase in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(6)The negative-conversion rate of anti-ds-DNA antibody in the observation group was 77.59%(45/58),which was significantly higher than that in the control group(55.17%,32/58),and the difference was statistically significant between the two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of patients with LN of qi and yin deficiency type,Yishen Gujing Kangyan Prescription exerts synergistic effect on reducing inflammatory response,regulating immune function,promoting the recovery of renal function,and enhancing clinical efficacy.

Clinical and pathological features and prognosis of lupus nephritis complicated with thrombotic microangiopathy / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics and prognosis of children with lupus nephritis(LN)and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA).Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, clinical and pathological data of LN children confirmed by renal biopsy from January 2008 to January 2023 in Xuzhou Children′s Hospital, Xuzhou Medical University were analyzed.There were 46 LN children complicated with TMA (LN-TMA group). With matched age, sex and pathology, 92 LN children (1∶2) without TMA were selected as the control group (LN group). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the overall and renal survival rates of children with LN, and the Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for the progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Results:TMA was moderately associated with serum creatinine, serum C3, anti-C1q antibody (a-C1q), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), endocapillary proliferation, fibrinoid necrosis, and renal C1q deposition (all r>0.5). Serum a-C1q≥20 U/mL ( HR=8.724, 95% CI: 0.976-16.114, P=0.026) and eGFR≤60 mL/(min·1.73 m 2) ( HR=12.213, 95% CI: 1.147-25.048, P=0.038) were independent risk factors for TMA in children with LN.Glomerular sclerosis ( HR=7.228, 95% CI: 0.186-22.358, P=0.016), TMA ( HR=11.387, 95% CI: 3.426-42.554, P=0.009) and eGFR≤60 mL/(min·1.73 m 2) ( HR=3.116, 95% CI: 0.592-10.064, P=0.030) were independent risk factors for developing ESRD in LN children.The 5-year and 10-year renal survival rates in the LN-TMA group were lower than those in the LN group (97.44% vs.98.28%, 80.90% vs.87.27%, χ2=4.918, P=0.027). Conclusions:Children with LN-TMA present with severe symptoms and poor prognosis.TMA is an independent risk factor for progression to ESRD in children with LN, and the mechanism may be related to complement activation.

Clinical effect of Ziyin Qingshenyin on lupus nephritis with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To observe the clinical effect of Ziyin Qingshenyin on lupus nephritis(LN)with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome.Methods Sixty patients diagnosed with LN were selected from June 2020 to May 2022 from our hospital as research partici-pants and randomly divided into control group(n=30)and combination group(n=30).The control and combination groups were adminis-tered conventional Western medicine and conventional Western medicine with Ziyin Qingshenyin,respectively.Clinical efficacy,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score and efficacy,renal function index[serum albumin(ALB),serum creatinine(sCr),hemoglobin(Hb),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and 24 h urinary protein quantitation(24 h Upro)],immunological indicators[complement C3,com-plement C4,immunoglobulin(Ig)M,IgG,and IgA],inflammatoryindicators[C-reactive protein(CRP)and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)],disease activity score of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLEDAI),and safety were determined.Results The total effective rate(86.67%,83.33%)of the combination group was higher than that of the control group(63.33%,60.00%)(P＜0.05).Following treatment,the five syndrome scores of heat,sore throat,night sweats,and macula in combination group were lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).After treatment,24 h Upro,BUN,sCr,IgM,IgG,IgA,CRP,ESR,and SLEDAI scores in the combination group were lower than those in control group,while ALB,Hb,complement C3,and complement C4 were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The Ziyin Qingshen-yin treatment has notable effects on LN with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome,which can improve renal function and immunolog-ical indexes,reduce inflammatory factors,and contribute to disease control.

The impact of apoB/apoA1 on lupus nephritis and renal insufficiency and its diagnostic value / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To analyze the impact and diagnostic value of apoB/apoA1 on lupus nephritis (LN) and its renal dysfunction.Methods:A total of 134 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the Taihe Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2019 to January 2023 were selected and divided into LN group ( n=82) and simple SLE group ( n=52). According to the glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR), LN was divided into a group with normal renal function ( n=42) and a group with renal insufficiency ( n=40). We compared the differences in clinical data between different groups and analyzed the diagnostic value of apoB, apoA1, and apoB/apoA1 for LN and its renal insufficiency. Results:The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that apoB/apoA1, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), anti double stranded DNA (dsDNA), complement 3 (C3), and albumin (ALB) were independent influencing factors for LN ( OR=4.033, 1.179, 3.148, 0.374, 0.879, all P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of apoB, apoA1, and apoB/apoA1 for diagnosing LN were 0.623, 0.662, and 0.742, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of apoB/apoA1 was higher than that of apoB and apoA1, and the differences are statistically significant (all P<0.05). Regardless of whether confounding factors were adjusted or not, apoB/apoA1 were all risk factors for LN with e-GFR>60 ml/(min·1.73 m 2), e-GFR 30-60 ml/(min·1.73 m 2), and e-GFR<30 ml/(min·1.73 m 2) (all P<0.05). ApoB/apoA1, anti dsDNA, C3, and ALB were all independent influencing factors for renal insufficiency LN ( OR=3.778, 2.669, 0.415, 0.884, all P<0.05). The AUC for diagnosing renal insufficiency LN in apoB, apoA1, and apoB/apoA1 were 0.623, 0.640, and 0.730, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of apoB/apoA1 was higher than that of apoB and apoA1, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:ApoB/apoA1 is an independent influencing factor for the occurrence of LN and renal insufficiency LN, and has good diagnostic value for LN and renal insufficiency LN.

The role of tofacitinib in early atherosclerosis in mice with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of tofacitinib on early atherosclerosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and explore the possible relationship between lupus nephritis and early atherosclerosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods:Sixteen 8-week-old female MRL/lpr mice with a body weight of 20~25 g were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group and placebo group, with 8 mice in each group. The treatment group diluted tofacitinib by normal saline, and given at a dose of 10 mg·kg -1·d -1, and the placebo group (starch tablets) administered the medication in the same way as the treatment group for a total of 8 weeks. The ELISA method was applied to detect serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels in the two groups of mice. Bradford method protein concentration was used to determine the level of urine protein in mice. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect blood lipids, urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, complement C3, complement C4 levels. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase family 1 (JAK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) in aortic and kidney tissues. After the aortic arch section were prepared, oil red O was used to stain the sections, and the vascular plaque area and intimal thickness were evaluated by ImageJ software. The kidneys were dissected and stained with HE, and the active lesions of lupus nephritis were evaluated using the glomerular activity scoring system. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis, in which the between-group comparison was performed using two independent samples t-test, and the correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman method. Results:①The serum anti-dsDNA antibody expression level in the treatment group [(5.2±1.0) U/ml] was lower than that in the placebo group [(6.9±1.2) U/ml], ( Z=-3.07, P=0.008), and the levels of complement C3 and complement C4 were higher than those in the placebo group [(293±10) mg/L vs. (260±19) mg/L, Z=2.72, P=0.017]; (16±6) mg/L vs. (8±9) mg/L, Z=3.78, P=0.006]. There was no significant difference in serum BUN and Scr between the treatment group and the placebo group [(10.6±0.7) mmol/L vs. (11.5±1.1) mmol/L, Z=-1.96, P=0.071; (17±5) μmol/L vs. (22±6) μmol/L, Z=-1.79, P=0.095]. ② Compared with the placebo group, the levels of LDL, TC and TG in the treatment group decreased [(0.83±0.15) mmol/L vs. (1.08±1.05) mmol/L, Z=-3.95, P=0.001; (2.90±0.08) mmol/L vs. (1.81±0.97) mmol/L, Z=-5.17, P=0.001; (1.10±0.08) mmol/L vs. (1.60±0.42) mmol/L, Z=-3.23, P=0.013], and HDL level increased [(2.02±0.99) mmol/L vs. (1.81±0.97) mmol/L, Z=4.42, P=0.001]. ③ Compared with the placebo group, the levels of aortic MCP-1, JAK1, STAT1 and STAT2 in the treatment group were reduced [(0.17±0.30) vs. (0.23±0.05), Z=-3.06, P=0.009; (0.83±0.09) vs. (1.05±0.19), Z=-3.07, P=0.008; (0.77±0.07) vs. (0.94±0.13), Z=-2.83, P=0.014; (0.70±0.07) vs. (0.82±0.09), Z=-2.83, P=0.013], the aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness were lower than those in the placebo group [(12±31) μm 2vs. (1 242±1 101) μm 2, Z=-3.12, P=0.016; (63±7) μm vs. (82.10±8.06) μm, Z=-5.13, P<0.001]. ④ Compared with the placebo group, the urine protein level and glomerulonephritis activity score in the treatment group were decreased [(0.08±0.03) mg/mL vs. (0.20±0.11) mg/mL, Z=-3.08, P=0.015; (1.79±0.38) vs. (2.79±0.14) points, Z=-7.08, P<0.001)], and renal tissue MCP-1, JAK1, STAT1.Compared with the placebo group, STAT2 levels were reduced [(0.364±0.040) vs. (0.425±0.021), Z=-3.85, P=0.003; (0.689±0.074) vs. (0.838±0.068), Z=-4.19, P=0.001; (0.508±0.070) vs. (0.646±0.019), Z=-2.85, P=0.015; (0.618±0.062) vs. (0.740±0.101), Z=-2.94, P=0.013. ⑤ The glomerular mobility scores of the two groups were positively correlated with LDL, TCHO, TG, aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness ( r=0.51, P=0.043; r=0.79, P<0.001; r=0.64, P=0.008; r=0.82, P<0.001; r=0.74, P=0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL ( r=-0.53, P=0.036). The urine protein levels in the two groups were positively correlated with LDL, TC, TG, aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness ( r=0.67, P=0.004; r=0.68, P=0.004; r=0.53, P=0.033; r=0.80, P<0.001; r=0.74, P=0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL ( r=-0.57, P=0.021). Conclusion:The severity of lupus nephritis is correlated with atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia in the early stage of systemic lupus erythematosus. Tofacitinib may reduce the degree of early arteriosclerosis and lupus nephritis in MRL/LPR mice, and reduce blood lipid levels, which may be effective in improving the prognosis of SLE and improving the survival rate of patients.

Correlation between interleukin-2 receptor and CD4+/CD8+ on the activity of lupus nephritis / 中国现代医生

@#Objective To investigate the correlation between serum interleukin-2 receptor(IL-2R),CD4+/CD8+ and disease activity in patients with lupus nephritis(LN).Methods A total of 38 patients with LN who were treated in Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from March 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled in LN group,and 40 healthy persons who underwent physical examination in the hospital during the same period were included in healthy control group.General clinical data,systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI)and pathological classification were collected.LN patients were divided into active group and inactive group according to SLEDAI score,and the difference of clinical indicators between two groups was compared.Results The hemoglobin(Hb),platelet count,albumin(ALB),complement C3 and C4 in LN group were significantly lower than those in healthy control group,the positive rates of antinuclear antibody and anti-double strand DNA antibody(anti-ds-DNA antibody),serum creatinine(SCr)and C-reactive protein were significantly higher than those in healthy control group(P<0.05).The ALB of active group was significantly lower than that of inactive group,and IL-2R,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,24h urinary protein quantity and anti-ds-DNA antibody positive rate were significantly higher than those of inactive group(P<0.05).Serum IL-2R levels in LN patients were positively correlated with SLEDAI,SCr,blood urea nitrogen and 24h urinary protein quantity,and negatively correlated with Hb and complement C3(P<0.05).Conclusion Serum IL-2R can be used as an indicator to judge the degree of LN activity and provide a basis for the judgment of clinical disease activity.

Efficiency and safety of belimumab in the treatment of lupus nephritis in Chinese adults：a meta-analysis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To systematically evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of belimumab in the treatment of lupus nephritis （LN） in Chinese adult patients. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Embase， Web of Science， Cochrane Library， Wanfang data， CNKI， VIP and CBM， real-world studies on belimumab in the treatment of LN in Chinese adult patients were collected from the inception to July 7th， 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature， extracted data， and assessed the quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS A total of 10 real- world studies were included， involving 253 Chinese adult patients with LN. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the complete renal response rate， partial renal response rate， and the incidence of adverse reaction rate in Chinese adult patients with LN treated with belimumab were 61% （95%CI was 46%-76%， P＜0.000 01）， 23%（95%CI was 2%-44%， P＝0.03）， and 30% （95%CI was 16%-43%， P＜0.000 01）， respectively. Belimumab could reduce the 24-hour urinary protein （MD＝－1.71， 95%CI was －3.02-－0.40， P＝0.01）， urine protein-creatinine ratio （MD＝－1.76，95%CI was －2.06-－1.46，P＜0.000 01）， the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index （MD＝－8.63， 95%CI was －12.12-－5.13， P＜0.000 01）， and glucocorticoids dosage （MD＝－18.65， 95%CI was －31.82-－5.48， P＝0.006）. In addition， it could elevate the levels of complement C3 （MD＝0.19， 95%CI was 0.08-0.30， P＝0.000 6） and complement C4 （MD＝0.06， 95%CI was 0.02-0.09， P＝0.001）. However， belimumab could not improve the levels of serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Belimumab has good efficacy and safety in Chinese adult patients with LN.

Anti-C1q como Marcador de Nefritis Lúpica / Anti-C1q as Lupus Nephritis Marker

Introducción: Los autoanticuerpos anti-C1q han sido propuestos como un marcador útil en el lupus eritematoso sistémico por su asociación con la nefritis lúpica. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de anti-C1q en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico y otras enfermedades reumáticas para la evaluar la asociación con la nefropatía lúpica. Métodos: Se incluyeron 179 pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico y 82 con otras enfermedades reumáticas. La nefritis lúpica fue diagnosticada en 70 (39 por ciento) de los pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico. Los anticuerpos anti-C1q IgG se determinaron por ELISA. Las asociaciones se evaluaron por análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: La prevalencia de anti-C1q fue de 37 poe ciento (66/179) en los pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico y de 9 por ciento (7/82) en controles (OR = 6,3; IC 95 por ciento 2,8-14,1; p < 0,001). El anti-C1q fue asociado con proteinuria (OR = 2,6; IC 95 por ciento 1,2-6,0; p < 0,022); eritrosedimentación elevada (OR = 3,2; IC 95 por ciento 1,5-6,7; p < 0,003) y anti-DNAdc (OR = 3,9; IC 95 por ciento 1,7-9,1; p < 0,002). En el modelo de regresión logística ajustado para demografía y anti-DNAdc, aunque la OR del anti-C1q para la nefritis fue 2 veces más alta que en ausencia del anti-C1q, solo se aproximó a la significación estadística. La positividad simultánea de anti-C1q y anti-DNAdc estuvo asociada a la nefritis lúpica (OR = 4,3; IC 95 por ciento 1,9-9,5; p < 0,001). Conclusiones: El anti-C1q se presentó con mayor frecuencia en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico que en los controles. El anti-C1q combinado con anti-DNAdc resultó fuertemente asociado a la nefritis lúpica(AU)

Introducción: Anti-C1q autoantibodies have been proposed as useful marker in systemic lupus erythematosus due to their association with lupus nephritis. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anti-C1q in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic diseases to evaluate the association with lupus nephropathy. Methods: One hundred seventy-nine patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 82 with other rheumatic diseases were included. Lupus nephritis was diagnosed in 70 (39percent) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Anti-C1q IgG antibodies were determined by ELISA. Associations were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of anti-C1q was 37percent (66/179) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 9percent (7/82) in controls (OR = 6.3; 95percent CI 2.8-14). .1; p < 0.001). Anti-C1q was associated with proteinuria (OR = 2.6; 95percent CI 1.2-6.0; p < 0.022); elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR = 3.2; 95percent CI 1.5-6.7; p < 0.003) and anti-dsDNA (OR = 3.9; 95percent CI 1.7-9.1; p < 0.002). In the logistic regression model adjusted for demographics and anti-dsDNA, although the OR of anti-C1q for nephritis was 2-fold higher than in the absence of anti-C1q, it only approached statistical significance. Simultaneous positivity of anti-C1q and anti-dsDNA was associated with lupus nephritis (OR = 4.3; 95percent CI 1.9-9.5; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Anti-C1q occurred more frequently in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than in controls. Anti-C1q combined with anti-dsDNA was strongly associated with lupus nephritis(AU)

Renal-limited systemic lupus erythematosus: Avoiding delay in diagnosis

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) and glomerulonephritis (GN) are disorders of varied etiologies. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the multisystemic diseases causing NS and GN. SLE is often suspected whenever NS/GN is associated with extrarenal manifestations. However, it presents solely as NS or GN without extrarenal features in a handful of cases. This affects the prognosis adversely as negligent delay in diagnosis of SLE and initiation of immunosuppressive therapy is associated with poorer response. We present a series of five women who presented solely with renal manifestations. The diagnosis of SLE was delayed, as the women did not have any extrarenal features. We started immunosuppressive therapy after a diagnosis of lupus nephritis was made in retrospect after a kidney biopsy. This case series highlights the importance of performing serology tests for SLE in all young female patients who present with NS/GN to avoid delay in diagnosis.

Clinical value of combined detection of serum IgG, TBX21 and miR-335 in diagnosis of lupus nephritis / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of combined detection of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), T-frame protein 21 (TBX21), and microRNA-335 (miR-335) in the diagnosis of lupus nephritis (LN).Methods:Ninety-five patients with LN treated in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected as the observation group, while ninety-five healthy individuals were selected as the control group. Based on the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score at admission, the LN patients were divided into two subgroups: the active LN group (51 cases, SLEDAI score > 4) and the stable LN group (44 cases, SLEDAI score = 0 - 4). The levels of serum IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 were compared between the two groups, and the levels of serum IgG, TBX21, miR-335, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), complement C3, complement C4, and SLEDAI score were compared between the two groups. The correlations of serum IgG, PTX3, and miR-335 levels with BUN, Scr, complement C3, complement C4, and SLEDAI scores were analyzed. The diagnostic value of serum IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 in LN was evaluated.Results:Compared with the control group, the levels of serum IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 in the observation group were higher on admission (all P < 0.05). The serum levels of IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 in patients with the active stage were higher than those in patients with the stable stage on admission (all P < 0.05). On admission, the BUN, Scr, and SLEDAI scores of patients in the active stage were higher than those in the stable stage, and the levels of complement C3 and C4 were lower than those in the stable stage (all P < 0.05). The levels of serum IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 on admission were positively correlated with BUN, Scr, and SLEDAI scores and negatively correlated with complement C3 and C4 levels (all P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the combination of serum IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 levels in the diagnosis of LN was greater than that of single detection ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:Serum IgG, TBX21, and miR-335 are closely related to disease activity and can be used as reference indicators for the diagnosis and prediction of LN in clinical practice, enabling the development of early targeted treatment plans.

Efficacy and safety of half-dose rituximab in the treatment of 23 cases with lupus nephritis / 中华内科杂志

The study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of 23 cases of lupus nephritis and explore the prospect of half-dose rituximab in lupus nephritis treatment. Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from May 2013 to December 2021 were selected. Eighteen patients received rituximab 375 mg/m 2 on the first and 14th days, 5 patients received 500 mg of rituximab on the first and 14th days, and rituximab was used as needed 6 months later. Methylprednisolone (80-120 mg) was given together with rituximab. Afterward, 1 mg/kg prednisone was used for 4 weeks, which was progressively tapered to maintenance doses or discontinued. B lymphocyte level, renal function, 24-h urine protein level, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI2K) score before and after treatment were recorded. The efficacy and adverse reactions were analyzed. The results showed that 11 patients suffered from renal insufficiency [creatinine (162.7±58.6) μmol/L ] at baseline, while the creatinine level of 9 patients returned to normal 12 months after the treatment [ (66.3±10.1)μmol/L ]. Normal renal function of the other 12 patients was maintained during treatment. After 12 months, the 24-h urine protein level decreased from 4.00 (2.00,6.80) g in the baseline period to 0.10 (0.08,0.40) g. SLEDAI2K score decreased from 22 (18,26) in the baseline period to 3 (0,6) 12 months after the treatment. The B lymphocyte level reached 0.00 (0.00,0.01)% at 3 months. Of 23 patients, 13 patients achieved complete remission, and 7 patients achieved partial remission after 6 months of rituximab treatment. Five patients experienced adverse reactions related to rituximab, including 1 case of transfusion reaction, 1 case of perioral herpes with pulmonary infection, and 3 cases of decreased IgG levels. Therefore, rituximab regimen used in this study can be an effective treatment strategy for lupus nephritis.

Efficacy and safety of belimumab combined with standard regimen in the treatment of active lupus nephritis / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of belimumab combined with standard regimen in the treatment of active lupus nephritis (LN).Methods:It was a single-center, pre - and post-control retrospective study. The Data of active LN patients treated with belimumab combined with standard regimen in the Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from June 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022 were collected for analyzing the renal response rate and adverse reactions after belimumab treatment.Results:A total of 17 patients were included, including 14 females (82.35%). The age of the first medication was (26.06±2.64) years old, the median time of illness before the use of belimumab was 24.00 (8.50, 48.50) months, and the recurrence times before the use of belimumab was (1.24±1.03) times. All the 17 patients underwent renal biopsy. The main pathological types were type IV in 11 cases (11/17), type Ⅲ+V in 2 cases (2/17), type IV+V in 3 cases (3/17), and type V in 1 case (1/17). The dose of glucocorticoids was (22.95±8.30) mg/d in 1 year before belimumab administration. In 12 patients with LN who completed 24 weeks of belimumab treatment plan, the 24-hour urinary protein showed a downward trend, and there was a statistically significant difference compared with the baseline at 24 week [0.49 (0.15, 2.19) g vs. 2.83 (1.14, 4.11) g, Z=-2.100, P=0.036]. Compared with the baseline, serum albumin at 24 week increased by 29.36%, with statistically significant difference [(34.50±3.34) g/L vs. (26.67±5.75) g/L, t=-3.840, P=0.030]. The systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index-2K score continued to decline, with statistically significant difference compared with baseline at 24 week (5.00±3.02 vs. 12.00±2.82, t=6.163, P<0.001). The lymphocyte count increased, and the difference was statistically significant compared with the baseline at 24 week [0.72(0.28, 2.39)×10 9/L vs. 0.30(0.19,0.34)×10 9/L, Z=-2.073, P=0.038]. There was a statistically significant difference between the glucocorticoids dosage at 24 week and the average glucocorticoids dosage 1 year before treatment [(11.25±6.35) mg/d vs. (22.60±9.75) mg/d, t=4.225, P=0.003]. After observation of belimumab for (38.13±22.93) weeks, patients had a complete response rate of 64.71% (11/17), a partial response rate of 17.65% (3/17), and an overall response rate of 82.35% (14/17). Relapse occurred in 1 case.No infusion-related reactions occurred in 17 patients. During the treatment, a total of 5 adverse events occurred, including 2 cases of pulmonary infection, 1 case each of sepsis, upper respiratory tract infection, and cytomegalovirus infection, which all improved after treatment and the subsequent treatment was not affected. Conclusion:Belimumab combined with standard regimen can improve the response rate of LN, reduce the recurrence rate, reduce the dosage of glucocorticoids, and control the overall adverse events with good prognosis.

Biologics in treatment of lupus nephritis / 中华肾脏病杂志

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to multiple vital tissues and target organs, and lupus nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of SLE involving the kidneys. The use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants has been dominant in the treatment strategy of LN, while their adverse effects have also raised concerns. In recent years, the development and use of biologics have provided new ideas for the treatment of LN and have also achieved positive efficacy in several clinical trials in SLE and LN. Biologics can be divided into monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins, which exert therapeutic effects on SLE and LN through a variety of mechanisms at the cellular-molecular level. In this article, we review recent research advances in the treatment of SLE and LN from the perspective of the different mechanisms of action of biologics.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of 12 cases of lupus nephritis complicated with thrombotic microangiopathy / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical characteristics, pathological features, treatment regimen, and prognosis of children with lupus nephritis (LN) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), as well as the treatment outcome of these children and the clinical and pathological differences between LN children with TMA and those without TMA.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on 12 children with LN and TMA (TMA group) who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from December 2010 to December 2021. Twenty-four LN children without TMA who underwent renal biopsy during the same period were included as the non-TMA group. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results, and pathological results.@*RESULTS@#Among the 12 children with TMA, 8 (67%) had hypertension and 3 (25%) progressed to stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Compared with the non-TMA group, the TMA group had more severe tubulointerstitial damage, a higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score at onset, and higher cholesterol levels (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentage of crescent bodies and the levels of hemoglobin and platelets (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There is a higher proportion of individuals with hypertension among the children with LN and TMA, as well as more severe tubulointerstitial damage. These children have a higher SLEDAI score and a higher cholesterol level.

Clinical efficacy of cyclophosphamide combined with leflunomide in the treatment of lupus nephritis in 45 patients / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of cyclophosphamide combined with leflunomide in the treatment of lupus nephritis.Methods:The clinical data of 90 patients with lupus nephritis who received treatment in The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng from January 2019 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups according to different treatment methods. The single drug group ( n = 45) was treated with cyclophosphamide alone, and the combined drug group ( n = 45) was treated with cyclophosphamide combined with leflunomide. All patients were treated for 6 months. Total response rate, inflammatory factor level, immune function, renal function, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results:Total response rate in the combined drug group was 95.56% (43/45), which was significantly higher than 82.22% (37/45) in the single drug group ( χ2 = 4.05, P < 0.05). After treatment, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor in the combined drug group were (45.21 ± 5.07) ng/L, (3.13 ± 1.01) mg/L, (43.37 ± 18.20) IU/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than (60.20 ± 6.13) ng/L, (6.23 ± 1.31) mg/L, (73.19 ± 19.17) IU/mL in the single drug group ( t = 12.64, 12.57, 7.56, all P < 0.001). Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels in the combined drug group were significantly lower than those in the single drug group ( t = 13.05, 13.40, both P < 0.001), but immunoglobulin M level in the combined drug group was significantly higher than that in the single drug group ( t = 13.51, P < 0.001). Serum creatinine and 24-hour urine protein levels in the combined drug group were (78.23 ± 19.13) μmol/L and (1.15 ± 0.33) g/24 hours, respectively, which were significantly lower than (92.19 ± 20.19) μmol/L and (3.15 ± 0.81) g/24 hours in the single drug group ( t = 3.36, 15.33, both P < 0.001). The incidence of adverse reactions in the combined drug group was 6.67% (3/45), which was significantly lower than 22.22% (10/45) in the single drug group ( χ2 = 4.40, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Cyclophosphamide combined with leflunomide is effective against lupus nephritis. The combined therapy can regulate the inflammatory reaction, improve the immune function, promote the recovery of renal function, and be safe.

Clinical value of dynamic detection of lymphocyte subsets and blood cell counts in monitoring of patients with lupus nephritis / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of dynamic detection of lymphocyte subsets and blood cell counts in management of patients with lupus nephritis (LN).Methods:The clinical data of 65 patients with primary LN admitted in Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2015 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the stage of disease progression and medications used,LN patients were classified into primary active phase,post-induction therapy phase,and maintenance therapy phase. The changes in lymphocyte subsets were monitored,and the relationship of lymphocyte subsets and blood cell count ratios with lupus activity and infection events was evaluated.Results:The decrease of CD4 +T lymphocyte and NK cell counts were negatively correlated with the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)( r=-0.67,-0.33, P<0.01),while CD8 +T lymphocyte,B cell counts,neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR),platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR),and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were positively correlated with the SLE activity( r=0.38,0.26,0.34,0.26,0.29, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUC) of CD4 +T lymphocyte count in predicting the occurrence of infection in LN patients was the highest (0.89); taking 247.50 cell/μl as cutoff value,the sensitivity and specificity were 81.25% and 87.50%,respectively. The combination of CD4 +T lymphocyte with CRP increased the predicting value for the occurrence of infection. Conclusion:Dynamic detection of blood lymphocyte subsets and blood cell counts can reflect SLE activity and the occurrence of infection in LN patients. Among these indicators the CD4 +T lymphocyte has the highest predictive value for the occurrence of infection,and the combination of the CD4 +T lymphocyte count with CRP level can further improve the predicting value.

Effect and mechanism of cornus officinalis glycosides on renal inflammation in mice lupus-prone MRL /lpr mice / 安徽医科大学学报

Objective @#To investigate the improvement effect and possible mechanism of cornus officinalis glyco- sides on MRL / lpr lupus nephritis．@*Methods @#Forty mice lupus-prone MRL / lpr mice were divided into model group， cornus officinalis glycosides low-dose，medium-dose，high-dose group (27．5，55，110 mg / kg) ，with 10 mice in each group，and 10 C57BL /6 mice were taken as the control group．Gastric administration was carried out 1 time / day for 4 weeks．24-hour urine was collected before drug intervention and 2 and 4 weeks after intervention to determine the content of urine protein．After the drug intervention，mouse serum and kidney tissues were taken and the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) ，urea nitrogen (BUN) and anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies were detected by kits．The levels of interleukin-6 ( IL-6) ，tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) and interleukin-1 β ( IL-1 β) in serum were detected by ELISA．The changes in peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were detected by Flow cytometry ; The changes of renal histopathology were observed by HE staining ; The protein expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ，myeloid differentiation factor-88 ( MyD88 ) ，nuclear transcription factor ( NF-κB) p65，and p-NF-κB p65 in kidney tissue were detected by Western blotting. @*Results @# Compared with the control group，the changes of renal histopathology of the model group was severe，and the levels of 24-hour urine protein，Scr，BUN and anti-dsD- NA antibodies，IL-1 β, IL-6 and TNF-α significantly increased (P＜0. 01) ，the peripheral blood CD4 + T / CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio was significantly reduced (P ＜0. 01) ，and the protein expression levels of TLR4，MyD88 and p- NF-κB p65 in kidney tissue were significantly up-regulated (P＜0. 01) ; Compared with the model group，the chan- ges of renal histopathology of each dose group of cornus officinalis glycosides were significantly improved，the levels of 24-hour urine protein，Scr，BUN and anti-dsDNA antibodies，IL-1 β , IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced (P＜0. 01) ，the peripheral blood CD4 + T / CD8 + T lymphocyte ratio significantly increased (P ＜0. 01 ) ，and the protein expression levels of TLR4，MyD88 and pNF-κB p65 in renal tissue were significantly down-regulated (P < 0. 01) ．Among them，the high-dose group had the most significant changes in each index．While there was no signifi- cant difference in the expression of NF-κB p65 protein in the groups．@*Conclusion @#Cornus officinalis glycosides have a certain effect on renal inflammatory response in mice lupus-prone MRL / lpr mice，and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4 / NF-κB signaling pathway.

Emodin reduces the injury of glomerular mesangial cells in lupus nephritis by targeting forkhead protein K2 through miR-96-5p / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To investigate the injury of emodin (EMO) in reduce of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) in lupus nephritis by targeting forkhead protein K2 (FOXK2) through miR-96-5p. METHODS: The contents of 24 h urine protein, serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) in MRL / faslpr mice (lupus nephritis group) and MRL / MPJ mice (control group) were detected. MCs were separated, purified and divided into: MCs group (MCs without any treatment), L-EMO group (MCs treated with 10 μmol/L Emodin), M-EMO group (MCs treated with 25 μmol / L Emodin), H-EMO group (MCs treated with 50 μmol / L Emodin), H-EMO + miR-96-5p-NC group (MCs treated with 50 μmol / L Emodin and transfected with miR-96-5p-NC), and H-EMO + miR-96-5p-minic group (MCs treated with 50 μmol/ L Emodin and transfected with miR-96-5p-minic). Double luciferase report experiment was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-96-5p and FOXK2. The real-time quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-96-5p. Western blot was used to detect the expression of FOXK2 and apoptosis related proteins. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors in MCs. cell count kit 8 (CCK-8) was used to determine the activity of MCs. Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining was used to detect apoptosis of MCs. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, 24 h urinary protein content, serum BUN and Scr levels in the lupus nephritis group were significantly increased (P< 0.05). Compared with the MCs group, the miR-96-5p expression, interleukin1β (IL-1β), interleukin6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), A450 value and B-lymphoblastoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein in the L-EMO group, M-EMO group and H-EMO group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the FOXK2 level, cell apoptosis rate, Bcl-2 related X gene (Bax), aspartate specific cysteine proteinase-3 (cleaved Caspase-3) protein levels were significantly increased, respectively (P<0.05), the effect of Emodin was dose-dependent. Compared with the H-EMO group and H-EMO+miR-96-5p-NC group, H-EMO+miR-96-5p-minic group obviously increased the miR-96-5p expression, inflammatory factor levels, A450 value and Bcl-2 protein level (P<0.05), and obviously decreased FOXK2 level and cell apoptosis rate (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: EMO can reduce the injury of lupus nephritis MCs by down-regulating miR-96-5p and then up-regulating FOXK2.

Cell phenotypes as activity biomarkers in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is complex. Few studies in Brazilian population have addressed cell phenotypes associated with immunological responses and their associations with SLE activity. The aim of this study is to investigate cell phenotypes associated to SLE diagnosis, treatment and activity. Twenty-eight SLE female patients (17 inactive, 11 active) and 10 healthy women were included in this study. Markers of natural killer (Nk), T and B cells in peripheral blood were evaluated by flow cytometry. Nkt cells were decreased only in SLE active patients. Activated CD4+, regulatory T FoxP3+ and B cells were decreased in both active and inactive SLE patients, compared to control group. The data corroborate the disruption of immune regulatory response in SLE patients and suggest phenotipic changes as possible biomarkers of SLE activity.