We also showed that the MCP-1 antagonist ameliorated the initiation and progression of lupus nephritis and of renal vasculitis, which might provide a new approach to the treatment of the disease.
These observations suggest that MCAF is probably involved in the pathogenesis of LN with active lesions, possibly through the recruitment and activation of M phi, and that measurement of urinary MCAF levels may be a useful clinical tool for monitoring the disease activity of LN.
In patients with active lupus nephritis, urinary MCP-1 was significantly higher than in lupus patients studied in the inactive phase of the disease or in healthy volunteers.High doses of i.v. methylprednisolone significantly lowered urinary MCP-1 in patients with active lupus nephritis.