Intrarenal and Urinary Th9 and Th22 Cytokine Gene Expression in Lupus Nephritis

• Published in: Journal of rheumatology 2015-07, Vol.42 (7), p.1150-1155
• Main Authors: Luk, Cathy Choi-Wan, Tam, Lai-Shan, Kwan, Bonnie Ching-Ha, Wong, Priscilla Ching-Han, Ma, Terry King-Wing, Chow, Kai-Ming, Lai, Fernand Mac-Moune, Li, Philip Kam-Tao, Szeto, Cheuk-Chun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Hypertension - genetics; Hypertension - metabolism; Hypertension - pathology; Hypertension - urine; Interleukin-10 - genetics; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - urine; Interleukin-22; Interleukin-9 - genetics; Interleukin-9 - metabolism; Interleukin-9 - urine; Interleukins - genetics; Interleukins - metabolism; Interleukins - urine; Kidney - metabolism; Kidney - pathology; Lupus Nephritis - genetics; Lupus Nephritis - metabolism; Lupus Nephritis - pathology; Lupus Nephritis - urine; Male; Middle Aged; Nephrosclerosis - genetics; Nephrosclerosis - metabolism; Nephrosclerosis - pathology; Nephrosclerosis - urine
• ISSN: 0315-162X; 1499-2752
• DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.140954

We studied the urinary sediment mRNA level of Th9- and Th22-related cytokines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We quantified urinary mRNA levels of interleukin (IL) 9, IL-10, IL-22, and their corresponding transcription factors in 73 patients with active lupus nephritis, 13 patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN), and 25 healthy subjects. There was no detectable IL-9 mRNA in all samples. Patients with proliferative lupus nephritis had significantly lower urinary IL-22 mRNA levels than those with nonproliferative nephritis (2.2 ± 5.4 vs 8.6 ± 20.0 copies, p = 0.019), and urinary IL-22 mRNA level inversely correlated with the histological activity index (r = -0.427, p < 0.0001). In contrast, patients with lupus nephritis had significantly higher urinary IL-10 mRNA levels than patients with HTN (7.8 ± 18.5 vs 1.9 ± 4.0 copies, p = 0.012), and urinary IL-10 mRNA levels correlated with its intrarenal mRNA levels (r = 0.337, p = 0.004) and SLE disease activity index (r = 0.277, p = 0.018). Urinary IL-10 mRNA level was significantly lower among patients who achieved complete remission than those with partial remission or no response (4.1 ± 6.5 vs 14.1 ± 28.0 copies, p = 0.036). Urinary IL-22 mRNA level is decreased in patients with SLE with proliferative nephritis, while urinary IL-10 mRNA levels correlates with its intrarenal mRNA level and disease activity. Urinary IL-10 mRNA levels may also predict treatment response. These results suggest that urinary mRNA levels of IL-10 and IL-22 might be used as biomarkers for assessing disease activity and risk stratification in lupus nephritis.