Expression level of the growth factor progranulin is related with development of systemic lupus erythematosus

Feng Qiu,Ning Yang,Huaxiang Liu,Qiang Shu,Lijun Song,Xingfu Li,Weiwei Liu,Feng Ding

doi:10.1186/1746-1596-8-88

Abstract

BackgroundThis study is to investigate the expression of progranulin (PGRN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment on its expression.MethodsThirty newly diagnosed severe SLE patients and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The serum levels of PGRN and the inflammatory factors of SLE were detected by ELISA and the mRNA expression of these proteins were detected by real-time PCR.ResultsThe serum levels of PGRN, IL-6, PR3, TNFR, TNF-α and anti-dsDNA antibody in SLE patients were increased significantly compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). The relative expression of PGRN mRNA was increased by 4.88-fold in pre-treatment SLE patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). After prednisone treatment, the serum levels of PGRN decreased significantly, and the relative expression of PGRN mRNA was decreased by 1.34-fold compared with the untreated controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, Serum concentration of PGRN was correlated with serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, TNFR and anti-dsDNA antibody in both pre-treatment and post-treatment SLE patients.ConclusionsPGRN is up-regulated in the SLE patients and is correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-dsDNA antibody. Glucocorticoids can down-regulate the expression of PGRN in SLE patients.Virtual slideshttp://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1562484036905973

Highlights

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease of unknown origin affecting major organs, which mostly occurred in women of childbearing age
PGRN level was increased in the serum of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients To investigate the inflammatory effect of SLE, serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, cytokine receptors as well as dsDNAa antibody were detected by ELISA
The level of PGRN was changed in SLE patients compared with normal controls

Summary

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease of unknown origin affecting major organs, which mostly occurred in women of childbearing age. SLE is primarily caused by high levels of autoantibodies and immune complex deposition [1]. In SLE patients, disorder cytokine production induces immunodeficiency and leads to tissue inflammation and organ damage. The progranulin protein (PGRN) is an autocrine growth factor with multiple physiological and pathological functions. Tang W et al had found that PGRN can bind to TNF receptors and is therapeutic against inflammatory arthritis in mice [2]. PGRN is a potential target for the treatment of. This study is to investigate the expression of progranulin (PGRN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment on its expression

Methods

Results

Conclusion