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<p>Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) and immune mediators have emerged as potential minimally invasive renal biomarkers. Even though active lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with immune complex deposition, tissue inflammation, and podocyte damage, it remains unclear how these parameters are simultaneously altered in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thus, we aimed to evaluate uEVs as biomarkers in LN, in association with urinary immune mediators. In this cross-sectional study, uEVs were isolated from SLE patients and healthy donors by differential centrifugation and characterized and/or quantified by electron microscopy, nanoscale flow cytometry, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Urinary immune mediators were assessed by a multiplex assay. We included 82 patients (42.6 ± 11.3 years-old, 91.4% female), of whom 56.1% (<i>n</i> = 46) had LN, and 18 healthy donors (37.5 ± 8.2 years-old, 83.3% female). No differences were found for particle size/concentration by NTA, but higher counts of total (<i>P</i> = 0.03) and podocyte-derived (<i>P</i> = 0.01) uEVs were observed in SLE patients, especially in active LN (<i>P</i> = 0.02; <i>P</i> = 0.03). We also identified higher urinary levels of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and CCL-2 according to SLE activity and LN (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between uEVs, immune mediators, R-SLEDAI-2K, proteinuria, and albuminuria in active LN. Lastly, the combinatory analysis of podocyte uEVs, IL-6, IFN-γ,&#xa0;IL-8, uCCL-2&#xa0;and CCL-3 showed a good predictive power to detect active LN (AUC = 0.88, <i>P</i> = 0.0009). Our results suggest that urinary podocyte-derived uEVs and cytokines are associated with LN activity, which may reflect podocyte injury mediated by inflammation. Thus, the combined application of these biomarkers could help to identify patients with podocyte damage and renal inflammation.</p>

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Podocyte extracellular vesicles and immune mediators as urinary biomarkers in active lupus nephritis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月5日

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  • Lilian Alves,
  • Ana Patrícia Lemos,
  • Jessyca Martins,
  • Suellen da Costa Fonseca,
  • Rodrigo Cutrim Gaudio,
  • Higor Lima,
  • Camila Carvalho,
  • Alice Ramos,
  • Gilmar de Souza Lacerda,
  • Pedro Barbosa da Fonseca,
  • Fernanda G. De Felice,
  • Mauro Jorge Cabral-Castro,
  • Jorge Paulo Strogoff de Matos,
  • Jorge Reis Almeida,
  • Dylan Burger,
  • Thalia Medeiros,
  • Andrea Alice Silva

摘要

Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) and immune mediators have emerged as potential minimally invasive renal biomarkers. Even though active lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with immune complex deposition, tissue inflammation, and podocyte damage, it remains unclear how these parameters are simultaneously altered in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thus, we aimed to evaluate uEVs as biomarkers in LN, in association with urinary immune mediators. In this cross-sectional study, uEVs were isolated from SLE patients and healthy donors by differential centrifugation and characterized and/or quantified by electron microscopy, nanoscale flow cytometry, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Urinary immune mediators were assessed by a multiplex assay. We included 82 patients (42.6 ± 11.3 years-old, 91.4% female), of whom 56.1% (n = 46) had LN, and 18 healthy donors (37.5 ± 8.2 years-old, 83.3% female). No differences were found for particle size/concentration by NTA, but higher counts of total (P = 0.03) and podocyte-derived (P = 0.01) uEVs were observed in SLE patients, especially in active LN (P = 0.02; P = 0.03). We also identified higher urinary levels of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and CCL-2 according to SLE activity and LN (P < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between uEVs, immune mediators, R-SLEDAI-2K, proteinuria, and albuminuria in active LN. Lastly, the combinatory analysis of podocyte uEVs, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, uCCL-2 and CCL-3 showed a good predictive power to detect active LN (AUC = 0.88, P = 0.0009). Our results suggest that urinary podocyte-derived uEVs and cytokines are associated with LN activity, which may reflect podocyte injury mediated by inflammation. Thus, the combined application of these biomarkers could help to identify patients with podocyte damage and renal inflammation.