CORRELATION OF HISTONE DEACETYLASE 3 AND TGF-β1 EXPRESSION WITH INTERSTITIAL FIBROSIS IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS

Tianli Shi¹, Shi Jiao², Wenjuan Lei¹, Zhen Lou^{1, *}

¹Department of Nephropathy and Rheumatology, Haikou people’s Hospital, Haikou, Hainan 570100, China - ²Department of Nephropathy, Boai Hospital of Zhong Shan, Guangzhou, Guangdong 528400, China

Introduction: The research attempted to assess HDAC3 and TGF-β1 expression in renal tissue of lupus nephritis (LN) patients, and clarify their association with clinical indicators and renal pathological activities.

Materials and Methods: A total of 60 LN patients treated in Haikou People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were enrolled. LN patients were divided into active and inactive groups according to the severity of their symptoms through SLEDAI scoring. Moreover, 10 primary nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients under therapy during the same period were chosen as a control group. HDAC3 and TGF-β1 positive protein expression, various clinical indicator levels and SLEDAI scores in each group were compared, and correlation of HDAC3 and TGF-β1 protein levels in renal tissue with various clinical indicators in LN patients and their diagnostic value were assessed.

Results: HDAC3 and TGF-β1 positive protein expression in active group presented elevation relative to those in inactive group and control group, and HDAC3 and TGF-β1 positive protein expression in inactive group presented elevation relative to those in control group (all P<0.05). C3, C4, 24 h UPQ, BUN, Cr, hs-CRP, anti-Clq, anti-ds-DNA and eGFR1 levels in active group presented elevation relative to those in inactive group and control group, and C3, C4, 24 h UPQ, BUN, Cr, hs-CRP, anti-C1q, anti-ds-DNA and eGFR1 levels in inactive group presented elevation relative to those in control group (all P<0.05). SLEDAI scores in the active group presented elevation relative to that in the inactive group (P<0.05). HDAC3 and TGF-β1 protein levels presented a positive correlation with SLEDAI scores, anti-ds-DNA, hs-CRP, 24 h UPQ, eGFR1 and anti-C1q levels in LN renal tissue (P<0.05). TGF-β1 protein level had a positive correlation with HDAC3 protein level in LN renal tissue. AUC value of HDAC3 in LN renal tissue for diagnosis of LN was 0.8757, presenting statistical significance relative to 0.5 (P<0.05), with a sensitivity of 87.32% and a specificity of 91.82%. AUC value of TGF-β1 in LN renal tissue for diagnosis of LN was 0.9439, presenting statistical significance relative to 0.5 (P<0.05), with a sensitivity of 78.57% and a specificity of 92.43%.

Conclusion: HDAC3 and TGF-β1 shows a marked upregulation in renal tissue of LN patients, and have close relation to disease activity level of patients, that is, with the increase of disease activity level of patients, above indicator levels present elevation. In clinical practice, it is possible to jointly detect the above indicator levels, which provides a reference for diagnosis and evaluation of LN patients.