RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the production of multiple autoantibodies and also by T-cell dysfunction. CD43 is expressed by most immune cells, is involved in lymphocyte adhesion and activation, and interacts with galectin-1 (Gal-1). The aim of this work was to evaluate the plasma levels of autoantibodies against CD43 and Gal-1 as well as the levels of soluble Gal-1 in SLE Mexican mestizo patients, with the aim of establishing a correlation between these parameters and the clinical profile. METHODS: Serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)G autoantibodies against CD43 and Gal-1 and levels of soluble Gal-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 55 patients with SLE and 71 healthy controls. RESULTS: We found significantly enhanced titres of anti-CD43 and anti-Gal-1 antibodies in sera from SLE patients compared to controls. In addition, the serum levels of Gal-1 were significantly higher in SLE patients than in healthy individuals. However, we could detect no correlation of these parameters with disease activity [using the Mexican Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (MEX-SLEDAI)], age, or a variety of different clinical or laboratory features. Similarly, no significant correlation with immunosuppressive or glucocorticoid therapy was observed. By contrast, a significant association was found between anti-CD43 titres and time of disease evolution, complement levels, and the presence of anti-Gal-1 antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: As CD43 and Gal-1 participate in modulating the immune system, we suggest that the presence of autoantibodies against these molecules may contribute to the immune deregulation observed in SLE.
Assuntos
Autoanticorpos/sangue , Galectina 1/imunologia , Leucossialina/imunologia , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Biomarcadores/sangue , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Galectina 1/sangue , Humanos , Leucossialina/sangue , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/diagnóstico , Masculino , Prognóstico , Valores de Referência , Medição de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Fatores Sexuais , Adulto JovemRESUMO
We measured prothrombin 1 + 2 fragment (f1 + 2p) and dimer D (dD) in plasma from 100 pregnant women at high risk for thromboembolic disease (TED) and in 23 non-pregnant control. Measures of f1 + 2p were made by immunoassay analysis in 75 patients and dD by semiquantitative analysis of plate agglutination in 97 cases. F1 + 2p was significantly elevated in 85% of cases, but its levels was not predictive value for TED. Dimer D was not found in 40 cases, in 33 patients its values were between 500 and 1000 ng/ml. and in the other 24 cases were higher than 2000 ng/ml. Values higher than 1000 ng/ml. were founded in 78% of patients with history of TED, in 60% of cesarean section patients, in 37% of hypertensive patients and in the 23% of diabetic patients. Dimer D, that was higher than 500 ng/ml. in 59% of pregnant and puerperal patients, have predictive value for TED, because 25% of 24 patients that had dD higher than 2000 ng/ml. developed TED and/or coagulation anomalies suggestive of thrombotic activity. These findings were not found in the rest of patients (n 73) which had negative dD or less than 1000 ng/ml.