Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Lower circulating mitochondrial DNA and increased mitokines suggest significant mitochondrial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus with renal involvement
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that lower whole blood mtDNA/nucDNA ratio, a surrogate marker for mitochondrial dysfunction, reflects renal damage, while GDF-15 may also reflect disease activity in SLE.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE with and without renal involvement, and age-matched healthy volunteerspatients with SLE
- Participants
- 195 patients
- Exposure
- SLE with vs without renal involvement, and vs age-matched healthy volunteers
- Outcome
- Whole blood mtDNA/nucDNA ratio (droplet-digital PCR) and circulating mitokines (GDF-15, fibroblast growth factor 21)
Methodological detailsage-matched healthy controls
- Age-matched healthy controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Compared with healthy volunteers (HV), patients with SLE displayed lower mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)/nuclear DNA (nucDNA) ratios, especially with renal involvement
- Mitokines increased in SLE with renal involvement
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- No correlation between mtDNA/nucDNA ratio and global disease activity
- Mitokine levels correlated with disease activity, in particular GDF-15 even after adjusting for renal involvement
Original publication
Lower circulating mitochondrial DNA and increased mitokines suggest significant mitochondrial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus with renal involvement. Lupus Sci Med. Published 3 February 2025. doi:10.
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