apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) and to compare these levels to that estimated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
and to control levels. The study included 30 patients with SLE underwent clinical and
laboratory evaluation and disease activity was determined according to the SLE disease
activity index (SLEDAI score; < 4: inactive & > 4: active disease). The study also
included 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n=15) and 10 healthy volunteers as
control group. All study participants gave blood samples for EL1SA estimation of serum
sTRAIL concentration. Clinical evaluation of SLE patients defined 17 patients with
inactive and 13 patients with active SLE with mean SLEDAI score of 20.2 and
9.96+0.63, respectively. Mean blood levels of C3 and C4 were significantly (p<0.001)
deceased, while mean CRP level and anti-dsDNA antibodies levels were significantly
(p<0.001) higher in patients with active SLE compared to those with inactive disease.
Also, both total and differential leucocytic counts were significantly lower in patients
with active compared to those with quiescent disease and 5 patients were neutropenic.
Mean serum levels of sTRAIL were significantly higher in SLE patients, irrespective to
the disease activity compared to serum levels estimated in controls (Pl=0.005) and in RA
(P2=0.001). on contrary, serum sTRAIL levels estimated in RA was non-significantly
higher compared to control level (Pl>0.05). Patients with inactive SLE had a
significantly (P3=0.002) higher serum levels of sTRAIL compared to levels estimated in
patients with active SLE. Serum sTRAIL showed a negative significant correlation with
SLEDAI score and laboratory parameters of SLE activity. It could be concluded that
TRAIL has a possible role in pathogenesis and initiation of activity of SLE and
estimation of serum sTRAIL could be used as a specific marker for differentiation
between SLE from RA and between patient with active and inactive disease.
Key words: SLE - TNF - related apoptosis inducing ligand |
