Fathi N A, Hussein M R, Hassan H I, Mosad E, Galal H, Afifi N A
Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine and Assuit University Hospitals, Assuit, Egypt.
Clin Exp Immunol. 2006 Nov;146(2):339-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2006.03219.x.
Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is involved in glomerular injuries leading to glomerulonephritis. Bcl-2 and Fas are proteins that promote cell survival and death, respectively. This study tests the hypothesis that lupus nephritis is associated with alterations of Bcl-2 and Fas protein expression. Thirty-six patients with lupus nephritis and 10 controls (normal individuals) were included in this study. Bcl-2 and Fas positive cells were examined in kidney biopsies by immunohistochemistry. Bcl-2 and Fas serum levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the glomeruli of normal kidneys, Bcl-2 and Fas proteins were completely absent. In lupus nephritis patients, glomerular expression of Bcl-2 and Fas was seen in mesangial cells (1.3 +/- 0.1 and 2.0 +/- 0.1 for Bcl-2 and Fas, respectively). Similarly, a statistically significantly higher Bcl-2 (217.1 +/- 85.9) and Fas (767.9 +/- 271) serum levels were found in lupus patients compared to controls (148.6 +/- 87, 550.3 +/- 91 for Bcl-2 and Fas, P < 0.05). A direct correlation between serum Bcl-2 and Fas and chronicity index was also found. Compared to normal controls, lupus nephritis is associated with glomerular expression and elevated serum levels of Bcl-2 and Fas proteins. These findings suggest possible roles for Bcl-2 and Fas in glomerular injury during evolution of lupus nephritis. The diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic ramifications of our findings are open to further investigation.
程序性细胞死亡（凋亡）参与导致肾小球肾炎的肾小球损伤。Bcl-2和Fas分别是促进细胞存活和死亡的蛋白质。本研究检验狼疮性肾炎与Bcl-2和Fas蛋白表达改变相关的假说。本研究纳入了36例狼疮性肾炎患者和10例对照（正常个体）。通过免疫组织化学检查肾活检组织中的Bcl-2和Fas阳性细胞。通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）评估Bcl-2和Fas血清水平。在正常肾脏的肾小球中，完全不存在Bcl-2和Fas蛋白。在狼疮性肾炎患者中，在系膜细胞中可见Bcl-2和Fas的肾小球表达（Bcl-2和Fas分别为1.3±0.1和2.0±0.1）。同样，与对照组相比，狼疮患者的Bcl-2（217.1±85.9）和Fas（767.9±271）血清水平在统计学上显著更高（Bcl-2和Fas分别为148.6±87、550.3±91，P<0.05）。还发现血清Bcl-2和Fas与慢性指数之间存在直接相关性。与正常对照相比，狼疮性肾炎与Bcl-2和Fas蛋白的肾小球表达及血清水平升高相关。这些发现提示Bcl-2和Fas在狼疮性肾炎进展过程中的肾小球损伤中可能发挥作用。我们研究结果的诊断、预后和治疗意义有待进一步研究。
