Rheumatic Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Arch Iran Med. 2010 Mar;13(2):135-42.
Soluble Fas (sFas) is a marker of apoptosis that appears to increase in the serum of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and may have a correlation with disease activity. The exact role of sFas in apoptosis is not clear. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between serum levels of soluble Fas (Apo/1-CD95) and the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Our study was performed on 114 systemic lupus erythematosus patients who were compared with 50 randomly selected sex, age and race-matched healthy controls. Disease activity was defined according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K). All physical exams and laboratory parameters were collected to determine the SLEDAI. sFas levels were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit.
There was a significant difference between serum levels of sFas in the case and control groups (P=0.001). A significant correlation coefficient existed between the sFas and SLEDAI2K variables (P=0.001, r=0.494). Significant statistical difference was found between serum levels of sFas in the active and inactive phases of disease according to SLEDAI< or =9 or > or =10, (P=0.002). The sFas levels were 270 - 300 pg/mL for SLEDAI< or =9 and 355-502 pg/mL for SLEDAI> or =10, with a confidence interval of 95 percent.
This study shows a significant elevation of sFas levels in the sera of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with active disease; therefore it can be used as an appropriate marker for evaluation of disease activity.
可溶性 Fas（sFas）是细胞凋亡的标志物，似乎在系统性红斑狼疮患者的血清中增加，并且可能与疾病活动度相关。sFas 在细胞凋亡中的确切作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在评估血清可溶性 Fas（Apo/1-CD95）水平与系统性红斑狼疮活动度之间的相关性。
我们的研究对象为 114 例系统性红斑狼疮患者，并与 50 名随机选择的性别、年龄和种族匹配的健康对照进行比较。疾病活动度根据系统性红斑狼疮疾病活动指数（SLEDAI-2K）定义。收集所有体格检查和实验室参数以确定 SLEDAI。使用商业上可获得的 ELISA 试剂盒测定 sFas 水平。
病例组和对照组之间血清 sFas 水平存在显著差异（P=0.001）。sFas 与 SLEDAI2K 变量之间存在显著的相关系数（P=0.001，r=0.494）。根据 SLEDAI<或=9 或>或=10，疾病活动期和非活动期之间的血清 sFas 水平存在显著的统计学差异（P=0.002）。SLEDAI<或=9 时的 sFas 水平为 270-300 pg/mL，SLEDAI>或=10 时的 sFas 水平为 355-502 pg/mL，置信区间为 95%。
本研究表明，活动期系统性红斑狼疮患者血清中 sFas 水平显著升高；因此，它可作为评估疾病活动度的合适标志物。
