The effect of active vitamin D on monocyte chemoattratant protein-1 expression from patients with system lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective In order to explore the effect of 25-(OH)D3 on monocyte chemoattratant protein (MCP)-1 expression from patients with system lupus erythematosus (SLE), we detected the level of active vita-min D and the expression of MCP-1 mRNA in patients with SLE, and analyzed the correlation between them. Methods The level of serum 25-(OH)D3 and mRNA expression of MCP-1 in 154 SLE patients and 31 healthy individuals were detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and real time quanti-tative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respectively. We also analyzed the correlation between serum 25-(OH)D3 level and the expression of MCP-1 mRNA, then analyzed the function of 25(OH)D3 on the regula-tion of MCP-1 mRNA expression in vitro. The differences between the two groups were tested by t-test and χ2 test, multiple data were tested by one-way ANOVA and the correlation was analyzed by Pearson's correlation, all data were analyzed by statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) 17.0 software. Results The serum 25(OH)D3 levels in SLE group (20±11) ng/ml was significantly lower than normal control group (29±11) ng/ml (t=4.198, P<0.01), and the ratio of the serum levels of vitamin D deficiency in SLE group were significantly higher than that of normal control group [55.8% (86/154) vs 22.6% (7/31), χ2=11.421, P=0.001]. The expression level of MCP-1 mRNA in PBMCs from the normal control group was significantly lower than the SLE group (1.14±0.27 vs 1.44± 0.31, t=3.277, P=0.001), serum 25(OH)D3 level and MCP-1 mRNA expression in patients with SLE PBMCs were significantly negatively correlated (r=-0.289, P<0.01). Further study found that 25-(OH)D3 inhibited MCP-1 mRNA expression in PBMCs from SLE patients depending on the concentration. Conclusion The decreased 25-(OH)D3 level and up-regulated MCP-1 mRNA expression suggestthat MCP-1 may play an important role in SLE pathological process. Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic; Calcifediol; Monocyte chemoattratant protein-1