Messenger RNA expression of RANTES in the urinary sediment of patients with lupus nephritis

Abstract

Lupus nephritis is characterized by intra-renal inflammation. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) showed abnormal T-cell expression of RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed) and its level in their serum. The authors studied the mRNA expression of RANTES in the urinary sediment of lupus patients. The authors studied 88 lupus patients, who were classified into active, remission and non-renal SLE groups according to the disease activity, 29 non-SLE and 10 healthy controls. Lupus activity was assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Urinary mRNA expression of RANTES was studied by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression of RANTES in urinary sediment was significantly elevated in active group (P < 0.001). Expression level of RANTES correlated with the SLEDAI score (r = 0.57; P < 0.001) and renal score in SLEDAI (r = 0.60; P < 0.001). In addition, urinary expression of RANTES had significant correlation with degree of proteinuria, serum creatinine, albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate. The authors conclude that the mRNA expression of RANTES was elevated in the urinary sediment of patients with active lupus nephritis. Measurement of urinary mRNA expression may be a novel non-invasive method for the assessment of lupus disease activity and the severity of renal involvement.