Immunological evaluation of serum CXCL1 and interleukin-34 and their correlation with IL-34 gene polymorphism in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Immunological evaluation of serum CXCL1 and interleukin-34 and their correlation with IL-34 gene polymorphism in patients wi

Background & objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease. The chemokine CXCL1 and interleukin-34 (IL-34) are implicated in inflammatory and immune responses, but their combined role and genetic regulation in SLE remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate serum levels of CXCL1 and IL-34, and the association of IL-34 gene polymorphism (rs7193968) with these markers and disease parameters in SLE patients.

Methodology: A case-control study was conducted on 50 SLE patients and 50 healthy controls. Serum levels of CXCL1 and IL-34 were measured by ELISA. Genotyping for the IL-34 rs7193968 G/C polymorphism was performed using PCR and sequencing. Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square tests, ROC analysis, and logistic regression.

Results: Serum levels of CXCL1 (125.42 ± 97.55 vs. 53.36 ± 34.60 pg/mL, (P < 0.0001) and IL-34 (23.30 ± 14.16 vs. 12.58 ± 9.89 pg/mL, P < 0.0001) were significantly elevated in SLE patients. The GG genotype and G allele of rs7193968 were significantly more prevalent in patients (P = 0.0020) and correlated with elevated levels of CXCL1, ANA, and anti-dsDNA.  ROC analysis demonstrated significant diagnostic capability for CXCL1 (AUC=0.85) and IL-34 (AUC=0.81).  Multivariate regression analysis identified all three biomarkers as autonomous predictors of SLE.

Conclusion: Elevated serum CXCL1 and IL-34 are significantly associated with SLE, and the IL-34 rs7193968 G allele is linked to increased disease susceptibility and severity. These molecules represent promising biomarkers and highlight a potential genetic-immunological axis in SLE pathogenesis.

Keywords: Chemokine CXCL1; Genetic Polymorphism. Interleukin-34; Lupus Erythematosus;

Citation: Musa AAA, Mahmood AS. Immunological evaluation of serum CXCL1 and interleukin-34 and their correlation with IL-34 gene polymorphism in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2026;30(3):327-334. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v30i3.3170

Received: May 09, 2025; Revised: October 26, 2025; Accepted: January 01, 2025

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