Increased expression of ADAMTS13 mRNA correlates with ischemic cerebrovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

OBJECTIVE We investigated ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) messenger RNA levels as a biomarker of disease features in systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS We measured and compared messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of ADAMTS13 in peripheral blood cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy control subjects by whole-genome microarray. We retrospectively analyzed the correlations of ADAMTS13 mRNA expression with clinical features, laboratory parameters, therapeutic features, and disease activity (according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index). We also examined the association of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4962145, rs2285467, and rs685523) of the ADAMTS13 gene with patient characteristics. RESULTS In 309 patients, the median ADAMTS13 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in blood cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients than in 23 healthy controls (p = .03). Notably, ADAMTS13 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with a history of stroke (p = .02) or transient ischemic attack (p = .02). Among the three single nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed, rs2285467 was significantly associated with stroke (p = .03) and anticardiolipin antibodies (p = .04). CONCLUSIONS Increased expression of ADAMTS13 mRNA in blood cells is associated with the presence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and suggests a potential role for ADAMTS13 in the pathogenesis of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in these patients.