Interleukin-1β and MicroRNA-146a as Prognostic and Diagnostic Markers of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Complexity

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder characterized by dysregulated autoantibody production and diverse clinical manifestations. Despite advances in research, the diagnosis and management of SLE remain challenging. This study evaluated plasma levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in patients with SLE and explored their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

Blood samples were collected from 100 patients with SLE and 100 healthy controls. Patients with SLE were further classified into newly diagnosed (ND; n=50) and under treatment (UT; n=50) subgroups. Plasma IL-1β levels were quantified using ELISA, and circulating miR-146a expression was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Patients with SLE exhibited significantly higher plasma levels of IL-1β and miR-146a compared with healthy controls. ND patients demonstrated the highest concentrations of both biomarkers. Among patients with SLE, those with lupus nephritis (LN) showed markedly elevated IL-1β levels compared with those without LN. Longitudinal analysis during a 24-week follow-up indicated that higher baseline IL-1β levels were associated with an increased risk of LN development, supporting its potential prognostic relevance.

IL-1β and miR-146a are elevated in patients with SLE, with IL-1β levels correlating with new-onset disease and LN development. These findings suggest that IL-1β and miR-146a may serve as useful biomarkers for diagnosing, monitoring, and predicting disease progression in SLE, although further validation is warranted.