Role of anti-endothelial cell antibodies and plasma markers of endothelial cell function in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract EN

Objective : to measure the level of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) and plasma markers of endothelial cell function and determine their role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) and its relationship to disease severity.

Methodology : this study was carried out on 32 patients suffering from SLE and 26 healthy control populations.

We measured the anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) by human umbilical vein endothelial cell binding and endothelial markers (von Will brand factor, soluble thrombomodulin and soluble E-selecting) by ELISA.

The antinuclear antibodies including anticardiolipin antibodies were also measured.

The disease activity was assessed by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics / American College of Rheumatology (SLICC / ACR).

Results: We found that the level of IgG AECA and the level of von Will brand factor in patients with SLE were higher than these levels in healthy controls (p = 0.001 and p = 0.007 for IgG AECA and von Will brand factor respectively) .

Also the positive correlation was only found between IgG AECA and SLEDAI (r = 0.393 and p = 0.021).

Conclusion : IgG AECA seem to be related to disease activity in SLE and may play a role in the pathogenicity of SLE, but the plasma markers of endothelial cell function may simply be related to excess inflammation.