Expression of human tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the mRNA and serum expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls. Sixty-two SLE patients and 15 healthy controls were recruited in the study. TWEAK messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 33 of 62 patients was detected by relative quantification RT-PCR. TWEAK concentrations in the sera of all 62 patients were measured by ELISA. TWEAK mRNA expressions in PBMCs were decreased in SLE patients compared with healthy controls. Lower TWEAK mRNA expression was also found in the active SLE patients when compared to inactive ones. However, there was no significant difference between patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and those without. The level of serum TWEAK (sTWEAK) in SLE patients was increased when compared to healthy controls. In addition, the sTWEAK level was higher in SLE patients with vasculitis than those without vasculitis, and so was in comparison between patients with and without headache. Nevertheless, no significant differences were found between active SLE patients and inactive patients, or between LN patients and non-LN SLE patients. In this study, patients with SLE express low levels of TWEAK mRNA but high levels of sTWEAK. Additionally, sTWEAK level was associated with several clinical manifestations of SLE, indicating that TWEAK may play a complex role in SLE.

Involvement of TWEAK and the NF-κB signaling pathway in lupus nephritis

“…Furthermore, TWEAK levels in patients with active LN were significantly increased compared with that in patients with inactive LN, which indicated that TWEAK may not only be associated with LN occurrence, but also with LN activity. However, the present study failed to observe a significant difference in the serum levels of TWEAK among the groups, which may be attributed to localized expression of TWEAK in LN kidney lesions, potentially resulting in its elevation in the urine via the glomerular filtration membrane (33). Western blotting results also indicated that the protein levels of TWEAK in the renal tissue of patients with LN were increased compared with the controls.…”

Impact of antihypertensive drugs on TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis

“…In this study by Wang et al [1], TWEAK mRNA and sTWEAK were detected. However, the treatment of SLE patients was not well described.…”

“…Dear Editor, I read with great interest the article on the study conducted by Wang et al [1] which revealed a significantly different expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and healthy controls. In this study, patients with SLE expressed low levels of TWEAK mRNA but high levels of sTWEAK compared to healthy controls, suggesting the probable involvement of TWEAK in the etiopathogenesis of SLE.…”

“…Lupus nephritis and hypertension which are similar to CKD stage I patients with hypertension to some degree are the common manifestations in SLE patients, and antihypertensive drugs such as valsartan are needed. Therefore, the antihypertensive drugs should be described in the study by Wang C. et al [1], especially valsartan and amlodipine.…”

“…Although SLE disease activity scores and the involved organs such as the kidney and the central nervous system were mentioned by Wang C et al [1], the impact of immunomodulatory agents on TWEAK cannot be ignored. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the cornerstone treatment for lupus up to now.…”