Osteopontin - a biomarker for organ damage in paediatric lupus?

A growing body of literature has demonstrated that the multifunctional glycoprotein osteopontin (OPN), has a role in type I interferon (IFN) production and may be involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. A recent report has provided further support for this, demonstrating an association between raised baseline circulating plasma osteopontin (cOPN) levels and IFN, and an elevation in cOPN prior to the onset of both increased cumulative disease and end-organ damage. These associations were most marked in paediatric SLE, implying that cOPN may be a useful biomarker of disease activity in childhood lupus.