Annexin A1 expression in Lupus Nephritis

INTRODUCTION: Lupus nephritis (LN) is an immune complex glomerulonephritis, caused by systemic lupus erythematosus. It is associated with an increase of morbidity and mortality. In LN, the immune responses dysregulation is one of the crucial pathogenic pathways. Annexin A1 (AnxA1), as an anti-inflammatory mediator, plays a critical role in immune responses, in addition to a variety of pathological processes. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the AnxA1 expression in renal tissues, in order to explore its potential role in LN pathogenesis. METHODS: AnxA1 expression was performed by immunohistochemistry staining in renal biopsies of 24 LN patients compared to 8 controls. RESULTS: LN patient's biopsies showed an increased distribution of AnxA1 in glomeruli compared to controls (p=0.00019). When comparing AnxA1 expression in different LN classes, a high AnxA1 intensity score was positively correlated with glomerular proliferation. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest AnxA1 as a useful marker to differentiate between severe proliferative and non severe proliferative classes of LN.