Plasma sMer, sAxl and GAS6 levels correlate with disease activity and severity in lupus nephritis.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether TAM receptors and ligands associated with the activity and severity of lupus nephritis. Clinical data were statistically analysed and studied in 122 SLE patients, diagnosed from 2013 to 2016 in First Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University. Levels of TAM receptors and ligands in the plasma of 122 SLE patients were measured by ELISA. Renal biopsies were performed to confirm lupus nephritis (LN) by histopathology in 68 patients. The associations of TAM receptors and ligands with clinical and serological parameters were analysed in 68 LN patients. Amongst patients with SLE, those with LN had significantly higher plasma sMer, sAxl and GAS6 levels than those without renal involvement (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). Additional comparisons on the renal function-associated clinical parameters confirmed an indicative role of the sMer, sAXL and GAS6 levels in the cohort of patients with more severe nephritis. Patients with higher sMer, sAXL and GAS6 levels of LN patients tended to suffer from proliferative glomerulonephritis. The sAXL and GAS6 levels had a strong positive correlation with activity index (AI) in LN patients. Furthermore, there was a significant drop of the sMer, sAXL and GAS6 concentrations from the time of the biopsy to month t6, but no further decrease from months t6 to t12. These results suggest that plasma sMer, sAxl and GAS6 can be an additional clinical marker related to the disease activity and severity in LN.

Gong S ，Xu Z ，Liu Y ，Xing L ，Ma J ，Yu C ，Liu X ，Jia X ，Xie R ，Sui M ... -  《-》

Increased sMer, but not sAxl, sTyro3, and Gas6 relate with active disease in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.

Liphaus BL ，Lima L ，Palmeira P ，Silva CA ，Goldenstein-Schainberg C ，Carneiro-Sampaio M ... -  《-》

Increased plasma levels of Gas6 and its soluble tyrosine kinase receptors Mer and Axl are associated with immunological activity and severity of lupus nephritis.

Bellan M ，Quaglia M ，Nerviani A ，Mauro D ，Lewis M ，Goegan F ，Gibbin A ，Pagani S ，Salmi L ，Molinari L ，Castello LM ，Avanzi GC ，Cantaluppi V ，Pirisi M ，Sainaghi PP ，Pitzalis C ... -  《-》

Circulating levels of soluble MER in lupus reflect M2c activation of monocytes/macrophages, autoantibody specificities and disease activity.

Zizzo G ，Guerrieri J ，Dittman LM ，Merrill JT ，Cohen PL ... -  《-》

Role of Gas6 and TAM Receptors in the Identification of Cardiopulmonary Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis and Scleroderma Spectrum Disorders.

Few biomarkers are available for early identification of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in systemic sclerosis (SS) and scleroderma spectrum disorders (SSD). To evaluate Gas6, sAxl, and sMer as biomarkers for cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD. In a cross-sectional observational study, we recruited 125 consecutive patients, affected by SS and SSD and referred to a tertiary-level pulmonary hypertension outpatient clinic. All patients underwent a comprehensive evaluation for identification of PAH and ILD. Gas6, sMer, and sAxl concentrations were measured with ELISA protocols, and concentrations were compared according to PAH or ILD. Nineteen subjects had pulmonary hypertension (PH) (14 PAH), and 39 had ILD (6 severe). Plasma sMer was increased in PAH (18.6 ng/ml IQR [11.7-20.3]) with respect to the absence (12.4 [8.0-15.8]) or other form of pulmonary hypertension (9.6 [7.4-12.5]; K-W variance p < 0.04). Conversely, Gas6 and sAxl levels were slightly increased in mild ILD (25.8 ng/ml [19.5-32.1] and 24.6 [20.1-32.5]) and reduced in severe ILD (16.6 [15.0-22.1] and 15.5 [14.9-22.4]) in comparison to no evidence of ILD (23.4 [18.8-28.1] and 21.6 [18.1-28.4]; K-W, p ≤ 0.05). Plasma sMer ≥ 19 ng/ml has 50% sensitivity and 92% specificity in PAH identification (area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.697, p < 0.03). Values of Gas6 ≤ 24.5 ng/ml and of sAxl ≤ 15.5 ng/ml have 100% and 67% sensitivity and 47% and 86% specificity, respectively, in identifying severe ILD (Gas6 AUC 0.787, p < 0.001; sAxl AUC 0.705, p < 0.05). The assay of Gas6 sAxl and sMer may be useful to help in the identification of PAH and ILD in SS and SSD patients. The Gas6/TAM system seems to be relevant in cardiopulmonary complications of SS and SSD and merits further investigations.

Bellan M ，Dimagli A ，Piccinino C ，Giubertoni A ，Ianniello A ，Grimoldi F ，Sguazzotti M ，Nerviani A ，Barini M ，Carriero A ，Smirne C ，Burlone ME ，Rigamonti C ，Minisini R ，Salmi L ，Barbaglia MN ，Castello LM ，Sola D ，Marino P ，Avanzi GC ，Pirisi M ，Sainaghi PP ... -  《-》