Elevated serum APRIL levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Takako Koyama ¹, Hiroshi Tsukamoto ^1*, Yugo Miyagi ¹, Daisuke Himeji ¹, Junji Otsuka ¹, Hiroshi Miyagawa ¹, Mine Harada ¹ and Takahiko Horiushi ¹

¹ Kyushu university, Japan

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tsukamot{at}intmed1.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.

Accepted 27 November 2004

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether serum levels of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are elevated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are correlated with autoantibody titers and/or disease activity.

Methods: Sera from 48 patients with SLE, 41 normal healthy individuals and 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) were assayed for APRIL by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for autoantibody titers and immunoglobulin levels. Disease activity was assessed using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index.

Results: The APRIL levels in the sera from patients with SLE were significantly higher than those from healthy controls and those from patients with RA. Serum APRIL levels were not correlated with serum IgG and IgM levels, but had a tendency to be correlated with anti-double-stranded DNA antibody titers. Moreover, serum APRIL levels were significantly correlated with musculoskeletal manifestations among SLE patients when assessed by the BILAG index.

Conclusion: APRIL may be an important factor in elevated autoantibody titers and musculoskeletal disease in patients with SLE. Patients with elevated serum APRIL levels may be ideal candidates for therapeutic targeting of APRIL.

Keywords: APRIL (a proliferation inducing ligand), ELISA, systemic lupus erythematosus

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