Vol.22 No.6

Original Article

Serum L-ficolin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Authors

Hiroshi Watanabe¹ , Rie Saito¹ , Tomoyuki Asano¹ , Shuzo Sato¹ , Haruyo Iwadate¹ , Hiroko Kobayashi¹ , Hiromasa Ohira¹

Received:

14 October 2010

Accepted:

1 February 2012

Published online:

21 February 2012

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Abstract

Objective L-ficolin plays an important role in innate immunity and is involved in apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum L-ficolin levels and clinical manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods Serum L-ficolin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 66 SLE patients and 50 healthy controls.
Results Median serum L-ficolin levels were 5.0 and 8.7 μg/ml in SLE patients and controls, respectively (p = 0.0001). There were no significant differences in serum L-ficolin levels between the active disease group [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) >6] and the inactive disease group (SLEDAI <5). Decreased serum L-ficolin levels were associated with thrombocytopenia (median of with vs. without thrombocytopenia 3.4 vs. 5.3 μg/ml, p = 0.008). There were no correlations between serum L-ficolin levels and SLEDAI, serum C3, or serum C4 levels.
Conclusion The association between L-ficolin and thrombocytopenia suggests a pathogenic role for L-ficolin in thrombocytopenia in SLE.

Key words

L-ficolin - Systemic lupus erythematosus