Elevated levels of soluble and neutrophil CD146 in active systemic vasculitis

Abstract

Background: Cell adhesion molecules have been implicated to be up-regulated in systemic vasculitis and could be potentially used as clinical diagnostic biomarkers. As a newly identified adhesion molecule, the expression level of CD146 in vasculitis has never been determined. Methods: Clinical samples were collected and levels of soluble CD146 were measured in sera using sandwich ELISA and neutrophil CD146 using FACS analysis in 59 patients with active systemic vasculitis and 34 healthy controls. Results: Expression of CD146 was significantly elevated in circulating neutrophils of patients with active small-vessel vasculitis (WG and MPA), but not in patients with large-vessel vasculitis (TA), compared with samples from healthy controls. Interestingly, elevated levels of neutrophil CD146 were dramatically decreased after treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Moreover, a significantly increased level of soluble CD146 was found in sera from patients with MPA and vasculitis-induced renal failure. Conclusion: The clinical study indicated that CD146 expression was elevated in active vasculitis and correlated with its pathological progression and post-treatment remission.