Increased serum β2-microglobulin is associated with clinical and immunological markers of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between serum levels of β2-microglobulin (β2MG), which some studies suggest reflect disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and various clinical and immunological markers of disease activity in SLE. Twenty-six SLE patients and 10 healthy controls were included. Disease activity was assessed by: SLEDAI, 24 hr-proteinuria, circulating levels of complement C3, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), β2MG and various pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18) measured with a multiplex assay, IFN-α assessed with a reporter gene assay, and a combined expression score of 12 IFN-α inducible genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Median serum levels of β2MG were significantly higher in SLE patients vs controls (2.8 mg/L, range: 1.1-21.6 and 1.2 mg/L, range: 0.9-1.7, respectively, p < 0.001). β2MG was correlated with SLEDAI score (R = 0.68, p < 0.001), 24 hr-proteinuria (R = 0.64, p < 0.001), and complement C3 (R = -0.52, p = 0.007). The cytokines were significantly correlated with β2MG: IL-6 (R = 0.45, p = 0.02), IL-8 (R = 0.75, p < 0.001), IL-10 (R = 0.67, p < 0.001) and IL-18 (R = 0.71, p < 0.001) as were serum IFN-α (R = 0.45, p = 0.02) and the IFN-α inducible gene-score (R = 0.51, p = 0.01). The results support that β2MG may serve as a marker of disease activity in SLE. The correlations with the measured cytokines indicate that increased β2MG in SLE reflects immunological activity.

Suppression of soluble T cell-associated proteins by an anti-interferon- monoclonal antibody in adult patients with dermatomyositis or polymyositis

“…Several soluble cytokine receptors and adhesion molecules [IL-2RA, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1)] demonstrated elevated levels in DM or PM patients, which was consistent with previous reports [17–19]. Our results also indicated overexpression of ANGPT2 and soluble B2M, which has been reported in SLE and SSc, but not IIMs [20–22]. Elevated serum ANGPT2 levels were only seen in the subset of IFN-hi patients (Fig.…”

Systemic lupus erythematosus activity and beta two microglobulin levels

“…Another study on 26 lupus patients, by Hermansen et al, 11 found that serum β2M showed correlations with cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-18, and with serum interferon-α. These authors believed that the increased β2M levels in active SLE reflected the overall immunological activity.…”

Rediscovering Beta-2 Microglobulin As a Biomarker across the Spectrum of Kidney Diseases

“…Higher serum levels are seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and adult-onset Still disease, especially in those with active diseases and hemophagocytic syndrome (268, 301). After therapy, the serum β 2 M level decreased significantly (268).…”