Clinical significance of selected endothelial activation markers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Kuryliszyn-Moskal, A.; Klimiuk, P.Adrian.; Ciolkiewicz, M.; Sierakowski, S.
Journal of Rheumatology 35(7): 1307-1313
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 18484695 Document Number: 627051
Objective. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which immunologically mediated vascular endothelial cell activation is regarded as a potential pathophysiological mechanism of systemic organ damage. We: investigated selected endothelial cell activation markers in serum of patients with SLE and their relationships with systemic organ manifestations and disease activity.Methods. Serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1); soluble E-selectin, and thrombomodulin (sTM) were determined by ELISA in 76 SLE patients and in 34 healthy controls.Results. Higher serum concentrations of ET-1, sE-selectin (p < 0.05), and sTM (p < 0.001) were observed in SLE patients in comparison with controls. Significant differences of ET-1, (p < 0.01), sTM (p < 0.001), and sE-selectin serum concentrations (p < 0.01) were found between SLE patients with systemic involvement and controls. Patients with organ manifestations (n = 34) showed significantly higher serum levels of ET-1 than patients without systemic involvement (n = 42) (p < 0.05). Comparison between patients with active and inactive SLE according to SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score showed significantly higher concentration of ET-1 in the sera of patients with active SLE compared with inactive patients and the controls (p < 0.001).Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the elevated serum concentrations of ET-1, sTM, and sE-selectin reflect persisting endothelial cell activation in SLE, and point to an important role of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of internal organ involvement. Moreover, elevated ET-1 concentrations are related to disease activity, suggesting a key role of endothelial cell activation in systemic manifestations in SLE patients.