Interleukin-34 as a marker for subclinical proliferative lupus nephritis

Background Lupus nephritis (LN) is an ominous manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinical renal affection is present in about 70% of lupus patients, and more patients have histological evidence of renal involvement without clinical manifestations. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of serum interleukin-34 (IL-34) as an early marker for the detection of silent LN. Methods Thirty-three lupus patients with silent LN (group I), 37 patients with clinical LN (group II) and 20 controls were included. The SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), IL-34, anti-dsDNA antibodies and renal biopsy were assessed in all patients. Results Serum IL-34 levels were significantly higher in all lupus patients compared to healthy controls ( p < 0.001) and showed a significant positive correlation with SLEDAI score. SLE patients with positive anti-dsDNA antibodies had more active disease according to SLEDAI and higher levels of IL-34 than those with negative anti-dsDNA antibodies. In both studied groups, serum IL-34 levels were significantly higher in patients with proliferative LN (class III and class IV) than those with non-proliferative lupus (class II and class V) and controls. Yet, in both groups, IL-34 was not useful in differentiating active from chronic renal affection. Conclusion In lupus patients with insignificant proteinuria, serum levels of IL-34 distinguished the different histological classes of subclinical LN. Serum IL-34 may be used as a surrogate marker for early renal affection in silent LN, especially the proliferative type.

Download Full-text

Assessment of SLEDAI Score in Children with Lupus Nephritis Class III-IV in Vietnam National Children’s Hospital

VNU Journal of Science Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.25073/2588-1132/vnumps.4238 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Duong Thi Thanh Binh ◽

Nguyen Thu Huong ◽

Nguyen Thi Kien ◽

Pham Van Dem ◽

Tran Minh Dien

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Class Iii ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Sledai Score ◽

Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This study describes clinical, paraclinical characteristics and treatment response in children with nephritis class II-IV caused by systemic lupus erythematosus and validates SLEDAI for the evaluation of disease activity and the appropriate treatment strategy. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 40 children, 37 girls (92%) and 3 boys (8%), with an average age of 11.7 years with lupus nephritis class III- IV in Vietnam National Children’s Hospital in 2019. The study results show that the average score of SLEDAI in the children with pericardial and pleural effusions was 20.94 ± 4.09; high blood pressure, 20.89 ± 4.23; and gross hematuria, 20.29 ± 5.03, which were higher than those in children without these manifestations with p< 0.05. The most common kidney manifestations were nephrotic-range nephritis with renal failure (40%) and Glomerulonephritis (35%), corresponding to an average SLEDAI score of 24.25 ± 5.52 and 24.33 ± 3.2, respectively (p = 0.001). SLEDAI had an inverse correlation with the C3 complement value (r -0.315, p <0.05). The average SLEDAI score decreased gradually from 18.75 ± 4.22 to 3.38 ± 3.95 points (p <0.001) after 12 months of treatment. The study concludes that SLEDAI score was higher in patients with pleural and/or pericardial effusions, hypertension and gross hematuria, nephrotic-range nephritis with kidney failure or glomerulonephritis. SLEDAI score corresponded with the C3 complement value and the average SLEDAI score decreased gradually with treatment. Keywords: Lupus Nephritis class III- IV, SLEDAI. References [1] George Bertsias, Ricard Cervera và Dimitrios T Boumpas, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features<sample chapter 20_mod 17_Systemic Lupus nephritis 2012.pdf> (2012), EULAR Textbook on Rheumatic Diseases, EULAR, 476-505.[2] D.M. Levy and S. Kamphuis, Systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adolescents. Pediatr Clin North Am59(2) (2012)345-64.[3] Thai Thien Nam, 2018, Lupus in National Children,s Hospital, [4] C.Bombardier, M.B. Hurwitz et al, Derivation of the SLEDAI: A disease activity index for lupus patients. The committee on prognosis studies in SLE, Arthritis Rheum 35(6) (1992) 630-640.[5] R. Shamim, S. Farman, S. Batool et al, Association of systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index score with clinical and laboratory parameters in pediatric onset systemic lupus erythematosus. Pak J Med Sci. 36(3) (2020) 467-472.[6] Le Thuy Hang, Assesment of SLEDAI score and panthology in children with lupus nephritis, 2016, Pediatrician thesis, Hanoi Medical University.[7] S.K.S.M. Nazri, K.K. Wong and W.Z.W.A. Hamid, Pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Retrospective analysis of clinico-laboratory parameters and their association with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score, Saudi Med J. 39(6) (2018) 627-631. [8] Nguyen Thuy Duong, clinical, paraclinical and pathology characteristics in children with nephritis caused by systemic lupus erythematosus, 2011, Master thesis, Hanoi Medical University.[9] S.N. Wong, W.K. Chan, J.Hui et al, Membranous lupus nephritis in Chinese children--a case series and review of the literature. Pediatr Nephrol, 24(10)(2009) 1989-1996.[10] N.T.N. Dung, H.T. Loan, S. Nielsen et al, Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus onset patterns in Vietnamese children: a descriptive study of 45 children. Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal, 10 (2010) 38-48.[11] T. Pusongchai, J. Jungthirapanich, S. Khositseth, Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Thammasat University Hospital, J Med Assoc Thai. 93(12) (2010) 283-290.

Download Full-text

Lupus nephritis is linked to disease-activity associated expansions and immunity to a gut commensal

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214856 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 78 (7) ◽

pp. 947-956 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Doua Azzouz ◽

Aidana Omarbekova ◽

Adriana Heguy ◽

Dominik Schwudke ◽

Nicolas Gisch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Structural Features ◽

Class Iii ◽

Discovery Cohort ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Faecal Samples

Background/PurposeTo search for a transmissible agent involved in lupus pathogenesis, we investigated the faecal microbiota of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for candidate pathobiont(s) and evaluated them for special relationships with host immunity.MethodsIn a cross-sectional discovery cohort, matched blood and faecal samples from 61 female patients with SLE were obtained. Faecal 16 S rRNA analyses were performed, and sera profiled for antibacterial and autoantibody responses, with findings validated in two independent lupus cohorts.ResultsCompared with controls, the microbiome in patients with SLE showed decreased species richness diversity, with reductions in taxonomic complexity most pronounced in those with high SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Notably, patients with SLE had an overall 5-fold greater representation of Ruminococcus gnavus (RG) of the Lachnospiraceae family, and individual communities also displayed reciprocal contractions of a species with putative protective properties. Gut RG abundance correlated with serum antibodies to only 1/8 RG strains tested. Anti-RG antibodies correlated directly with SLEDAI score and antinative DNA levels, but inversely with C3 and C4. These antibodies were primarily against antigen(s) in an RG strain-restricted pool of cell wall lipoglycans. Novel structural features of these purified lipoglycans were characterised by mass spectrometry and NMR. Highest levels of serum anti-RG strain-restricted antibodies were detected in those with active nephritis (including Class III and IV) in the discovery cohort, with findings validated in two independent cohorts.ConclusionThese findings suggest a novel paradigm in which specific strains of a gut commensal may contribute to the immune pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.

Download Full-text

Two-Parametric Immunological Score Development for Assessing Renal Involvement and Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2018/1294680 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christopher Sjӧwall ◽

Chelsea Bentow ◽

Mary Ann Aure ◽

Michael Mahler

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Activity Index ◽

Renal Involvement ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Blood Draw ◽

Assessment Of Disease Activity

Objective. Anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA and anti-C1q autoantibodies are useful tools in the assessment of disease activity and nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. This study aimed to explore the utility of these antibodies along with anti-Ku antibodies in an oligoparametric model approach for the assessment of disease activity and lupus nephritis. Methods. Samples from 261 well-characterized SLE patients were tested using chemiluminescent immunoassays (CIA) for anti-dsDNA and anti-Ku antibodies as well as by anti-C1q antibody ELISA (Inova Diagnostics, USA). Of these SLE patients, 26.4% had lupus nephritis (LN) at the time of blood draw or had a history of LN, and modified SLE disease activity index-2K (SLEDAI) scores were used to assess disease activity. Results. All three antibodies demonstrated higher prevalence and higher antibody levels in active versus inactive SLE patients and in LN versus non-LN patients. When oligoparametric analysis was performed, the likelihood of LN and patients with active disease increased with dual and triple positivity. Conclusions. Anti-dsDNA and anti-C1q antibodies are useful tools to identify disease activity and/or renal involvement in SLE patients. In addition, the combination of those antibodies in a two-parametric score might improve the clinical utility of those markers.

Download Full-text

The importance of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level in patients with lupus nephritis

Journal of Renal Injury Prevention ◽

10.15171/jrip.2019.25 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 133-139

Author(s):

Mohammad Reza Jafari Nakhjavani ◽

Sima Abediazar ◽

Amir Ghorbanihaghjo ◽

Behnaz Hanafizadeh ◽

Sepideh Zununi Vahed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Activity Index ◽

Renal Involvement ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Roc Curve Analysis ◽

Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin ◽

Neutrophil Gelatinase

Introduction: The neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has emerged as a biomarker of renal damage. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the serum levels of NGAL (sNGAL) as a marker of disease activity in individuals with lupus nephritis (LN). Patients and Methods: This study contained 50 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) individuals with (n = 25) and without (n = 25) nephritis, and 39 healthy controls. The sNGAL levels were measured by ELISA. Renal function test, urinary parameters, lupus serology activity, and also calculated SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) were analyzed to determine their associations with sNGAL. Results: The results revealed that the SLE individuals with or without nephritis had a raised serum NGAL levels as compared to control subjects (P<0.001). Additionally, sNGAL levels in LN individuals were meaningfully higher compared to those in non-LN patients (P<0.001). Serum NGAL showed a significant correlation with the SLEDAI, serum creatinine, and 24-h urinary protein (P<0.05). More importantly, sNGAL had a significant positive correlation with the activity index of LN (r = 0.616, P=0.001). In the ROC curve analysis, the measurement of sNGAL level showed a good diagnostic performance for distinguishing individuals with LN from SLE patients without renal involvement with AUC=0.902 (P<0.001), 72% sensitivity, and 99% specificity. Moreover, sNGAL could identify all of SLE patients from controls with high accuracy, AUC= 0.99, P<0.001, with 99% sensitivity, and 97% specificity. Conclusion: Serum NGAL had an association with clinical parameters and could discriminate LN from SLE patients without renal involvement. Our result suggests that serum NGAL can be used for early diagnosis of LN and identifying active LN.

Download Full-text

THE CLINICAL, LABORATORY MANIFESTATIONS AND HISTOPATHOLOGY IN NEPHROTIC PATIENTS WITH LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2018.2.9 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 52-58

Author(s):

Le Thuan Nguyen ◽

Bui Bao Hoang

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Activity Index ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Organ Systems ◽

Tubulointerstitial Lesions

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease involving multiple organ systems. The kidney appears to be the most commonly affected organ, especially nephrotic is a serious kidney injury. The clinical, laboratory manifestations and histopathology are very useful for diagnosis, provide the means of predicting prognosis and guiding therapy in nephrotic patients with lupus nephritis. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of nephrotic patients with lupus treated in the Department of Nephrology Trung Vuong Hospital and Cho Ray Hospital between May/2014 and May/2017. Renal histopathological lesions were classified according to International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society - ISN/RPS ’s 2003. The clinical, laboratory manifestations and histopathological features were described. Results: Of 32 LN with nephritic range proteinuria cases studied, 93.7% were women. The 3 most common clinical manifestations were edema (93.8%), hypertension (96.8%) and pallor (68.9%), musculoskeletal manifestions (46.9%), malar rash (40.6%). There was significant rise in laboratory and immunological manifestions with hematuria (78.1%), Hb < 12g/dL (93.5%), increased Cholesterol (100%), and Triglycerid (87.5%), Creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL (87.5%), increased BUN 71.9%, ANA (+) 93.8%, Anti Ds DNA(+) 96.9%, low C3: 96.9%, low C4: 84.4%. The most various and severe features were noted in class IV with active tubulointerstitial lesions and high activity index. Conclusion: Lupus nephritis with nephrotic range proteinuria has the more severity of histopathological feature and the more severity of the more systemic organ involvements and laboratory disorders were noted. Key words: Systemic lupus, erythematosus (SLE) lupus nepphritis, clinical

Download Full-text

AB0750 FUNCTIONAL CONDITION OF KIDNEYS IN THE LONG-TERM COURSE OF SLE IN ADOLESCENTS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.3930 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1403.2-1403

Author(s):

L. Bohmat ◽

N. Shevchenko ◽

I. Bessonova

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Disease Duration ◽

Renal Involvement ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Clinical Analysis ◽

Average Dose ◽

One Year

Background:Lupus nephritis is the most severe and adverse systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) syndrome. According to modern recommendations, the clinical manifestations of active nephritis should be taken under medical control in 6 months after the start of the disease’s treatment1.Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the functional status of the kidneys in children with SLE in the course of the disease for more than one year.Methods:The analysis included case histories of 43 patients with SLE, mostly females (41), aged 7 to 18 years (mean age 14.4 years) with disease duration of 4.75 ± 0.58 years of whom 22 were less than three years, 21 - more than three years. All children received corticosteroid therapy, at the time of the examination the average dose was 13.85 ± 1.86 mg per day in terms of prednisolone. The second component of therapy was azathioprine (average dose 97.61 ± 2.11 mg). All children received hydroxychloroquine (5 mg/kg per day).To determine the functional state of the kidneys a clinical analysis of urine, a study of the scope of specific gravity of urine during the day (Zymnytsky test), the content of creatinine and urea in serum to determine the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the level of microalbuminuria per day were evaluated.Results:Renal involvement in the developed SLE occurred in 73.08% of patients. Among them, therapy during the first 6 months was considered quite effective in 58.06% of patients. It was found that in children with disease duration from one to three years proteinuria was registered in 68.18%, a decrease in GFR in 4.45% and hyperfiltration in 9.09%. In the group of children with duration of SLE more than three years revealed deeper changes in renal function; there was proteinuria in 90.47%, the frequency of GFR decreased was in 19.04%, a decrease of renal concentration function was in 14.28% of cases.Indicators of renal function in children with SLE depending on the duration of the disease (M ± m)IndicatorDuration of the diseasefrom 1 year to 3 years n = 22over 3 yearsn = 21Creatinine, mmol/l0,080 ± 0,0140,090 ± 0,018Мочевина, mmol/l5,66 ± 1,425,63 ± 1,61GFR, ml/min117,05 ± 19,68100,20 ± 18,98 *Microalbuminuria, mg/day24,41 ± 13,1334,73 ± 24,76Density min1,007 ± 0,0051,006 ± 0,005Density max1,024 ± 0,0051,019 ± 0,005 ***р<0,03;**р<0,01 the probability of differences when comparing between groupsConclusion:Long-term follow-up of children with SLE over one year reveals a prolongation of renal dysfunction, which worsens after three years, and is the basis for the development of irreversible renal impairment.References:[1]European evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood-onset lupus nephritis: the SHARE initiative /Noortje Groot, Nienke de Graeff, Stephen D Marks et all. //Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Dec;76(12):1965-1973.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Download Full-text

Serum Albumin as a Marker for Disease Activity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.091028 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (8) ◽

pp. 1667-1672 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

JONATHAN YIP ◽

ELAHEH AGHDASSI ◽

JIANDONG SU ◽

WENDY LOU ◽

HEATHER REICH ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Serum Albumin ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Activity Index ◽

Surrogate Marker ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

University Of Toronto

Objective.To determine whether serum albumin reflects disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without nephritis (LN, LNN), and whether serum albumin could be a surrogate marker of SLE disease activity overall. There is currently no clinical “gold standard” in the assessment of disease activity in SLE.Methods.Patients with ≥ 3 clinic visits within a maximum followup period of 10 years were selected from the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic database. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: LN-B, those with nephritis defined by histological findings on renal biopsies; LN-L, those with nephritis defined by laboratory abnormalities in the absence of biopsy; and LNN, those without nephritis. In a subanalysis, the renal groups were further stratified by proteinuria status. The associations of SLE-Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) with serum albumin and dsDNA were examined using the mixed model regression analysis.Results.A total of 1078 patients were studied: 89.1% female, 71.5% white, mean age 33.6 (SD 12.6) years, and with median baseline SLEDAI-2K of 8. Serum albumin was more significantly associated with SLEDAI in LN-B and LN-L. The association was also present but weaker in the LNN group. In all LN, the associations between serum albumin and SLEDAI-2K were stronger in those with proteinuria.Conclusion.In patients with SLE, higher SLEDAI was associated with lower serum albumin levels.

Download Full-text

Predictors of mortality in children with lupus nephritis

Paediatrica Indonesiana ◽

10.14238/pi54.6.2014.338-43 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 338

Author(s):

Lukman Oktadianto ◽

Risky Vitria Prasetyo ◽

Ninik Asmaningsih Soemyarso ◽

Mohammad Sjaifullah Noer

Keyword(s):

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Renal Involvement ◽

Hypertensive Crisis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Predictors Of Mortality ◽

Cox Proportional Hazard ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Mean Time

Background Renal involvement during the clinical course ofsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is generally considered to bethe most important factor influencing disease prognosis in termsof morbidity and mortality. Various factors have been reported toinfluence the prognosis of lupus nephritis (LN).Objective To analyze clinical signs and laboratory parameters thatmight serve as predictors associated with mortality in pediatricLN.Methods Retrospectively, medical records of children with LNat Soetomo Hospital from 1998 to 2011 were studied. Diagnosisof SLE was based on Revised American Rheumatism Associationcritera, while patients with clinical manifestations of hypertension,abnormal urinalysis, and serum creatinin > 1 mg/dL wereconsidered as lupus nephritis. Cox proportional hazard modelingwas used to assess for associations of clinical signs and laboratoryparameters with mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis wasused to assess the cumulative survival from the time of diagnosisto the outcome.Results There were 57 children with LN of whom 43 (75%) weregirls. The female-to-male ratio was 3:1. Subjects’ mean age was 10.6(SD 6.87) years. The mean time of observation was 51 (SD 74.54)months and 23 (40%) children died. Age, gender, hypertension,hematuria, proteinuria, and anemia were not significant aspredictors for mortality. However, hypertensive crisis (HR=2.79;95%CI 1.16 to 6.75; P=0.02) and initial glomerular filtration rate(GFR) of <75 mL/min/1.73m2 (HR=3.01; 95%CI 1.23 to 7.34;P=0.01) were significant predictors of mortality in children with LN.The mean survival time of LN with hypertensive crisis and initialGFR <75 mL/min/1.73m2 was 36.9 (SD 12.17) months.Conclusion Hypertensive crisis and GFR <75 mL/min/1.73m2 aresignificant predictors of mortality in children with LN.

Download Full-text

Change of Renal Gallium Uptake Correlated with Change of Inflammation Activity in Renal Pathology in Lupus Nephritis Patients

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10204654 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (20) ◽

pp. 4654

Author(s):

Tsu-Yi Hsieh ◽

Yi-Ching Lin ◽

Wei-Ting Hung ◽

Yi-Ming Chen ◽

Mei-Chin Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Activity Index ◽

Left Kidney ◽

Renal Pathology ◽

Class Iii ◽

Stage Renal Disease ◽

End Stage ◽

Active Inflammation ◽

Histological Results

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) often lead to end-stage renal disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. This study aimed to investigate the clinical application of renal gallium-67 scans for determining renal histological parameters in LN patients. Methods: Between 2006 and 2018, 237 biopsy-proven and 35 repeat biopsies LN patients who underwent renal gallium scans before or after biopsy were included for analysis. The classification and scoring of LN were assessed according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society. A delayed 48-h gallium scan was performed and interpreted by semiquantitative methods using left kidney/spine (K/S) ratio. The renal histological results were compared with gallium uptake. Results: Out of 237 participants, 180 (76%) had proliferative LN. Baseline gallium left K/S ratio was significantly higher in class IV LN as compared to class III (median (interquartile range, IQR): 1.16 (1.0–1.3), 0.95 (0.9–1.1), respectively, p < 0.001). Furthermore, changes in gallium uptake between two biopsies were positively correlated with changes activity index (r = 0.357, p = 0.035), endocapillary hypercellularity (r = 0.385, p = 0.032), and neutrophils infiltration (r = 0.390, p = 0.030) in renal pathology. Conclusions: Renal gallium uptake is associated with active inflammation in LN. Changes in renal gallium uptake positively correlated with changes in activity index in renal pathology.

Download Full-text

Therapeutic potential of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells transplantation for lupus nephritis

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203318804922 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (13) ◽

pp. 2161-2165 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

J Barbado ◽

S Tabera ◽

A Sánchez ◽

J García-Sancho

Keyword(s):

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Stromal Cells ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Allogeneic Mscs

Animal and human studies have suggested the potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we present the results of compassionate MSC treatments for three SLE patients to provide the proof of concept for a randomized and controlled clinical trial. Three patients of different ethnicities who suffer from chronic SLE, and who presented with class IV active proliferative nephritis confirmed by biopsy, were treated with allogeneic MSCs from healthy donors. Ninety million cells were infused intravenously into each patient during high and very high activity disease flare-ups and follow-up was continued for 9 months. Multi-organic affectation was quantified by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and indicators of lupus nephritis activity, such as proteinuria, as well as lymphocyte and monocyte antigens and anti-HLA antibodies were measured at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after treatment. Proteinuria levels improved dramatically during the 1st month after treatment and the ameliorations were sustained throughout the follow-up period. SLEDAI scores revealed early, durable, and substantial remissions that were complete for two patients and partial for the third patient and that permitted medication doses to be reduced 50–90%. These favourable outcomes support completion of the randomized and controlled MSC trial for SLE.

Download Full-text