Serum Levels of MDC and MMP-9 and the Relationship Between Serum Levels and Disease Activity in the Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complicated autoimmune disease. Although its pathogenesis is not clear, cytokine may be involved in it. So we investigated serum levels of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and to determine the relationship between serum levels and the disease activity of SLE. METHODS: Serum levels of MDC and MMP-9 were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Significantly decreased serum levels of MDC and MMP-9 were found in SLE as compared to those in controls (P<0.001 P<0.001), but serum levels of MDC and MMP-9 increased after treatment (P<0.001 P<0.05). Serum levels of MDC and MMP-9 were lower in patients with active disease than those with inactive disease (P<0.001 P<0.05). Significantly decreased serum levels of MDC and MMP-9 were found in patients with renal damage than those without the damage (P<0.001 P<0.05). Serum level of MDC was lower in patients with arthritis than those without the damage (P<0.001), but serum level of MMP-9 has no significant difference in two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that MDC and MMP-9 may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, and serum levels of MDC and MMP-9 could be markers of monitoring disease activity, renal damage, disease progression and improvement in SLE.