Abstract

Lupus nephritis is a severe condition that develops due to the immune complex deposition on renal tissues, which plays a key factor in the development of the disease as well as long-term complications. Thus, it is important to diagnose the disease on time and implement specific treatment strategies in order to reduce the damage to the kidneys and improve the prognosis of patients. Its pathophysiology entails the interplay, the interaction of immune system dysregulation and genetic predisposition and some cytokines are involved. In the current study we accessed 40 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, clinically diagnosed in the Rheumatology Unit at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, and 40 individuals who were used as normal controls. Serum concentration of interleukin-39 (IL-39) was quantitatively analyzed and extensive hematological assessments made. Genetic research was also done through the Sanger sequencing to find possible immunogenetic causes of the disease. Blood levels of IL-39 were significantly higher in SLE patients than control (p<0.0011). Interestingly, IL-39 levels had a high correlation with disease activity ratings, and it indicates that the biomarker can be a good indicator to follow the progression and the severity of the disease. Based on the hematological parameters, the levels of hemoglobin of the patients were below those of the control group (p<0.01), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was much higher (p<0.001). These findings indicated that IL-39 is highly up-regulated in SLE patients, which highlights the most urgent role of this cytokine in the immunopathology of the disease. In conclusion our data reaffirms the idea that IL-39 can be a new biomarker of gauging disease activity and can be helpful in shaping more specific clinical platforms of treatment.

Keywords: Interleukin 39, Hemoglobin, ESR, White Blood Cells, SLE.

Date received: 09 January 2026; accepted: 19 February 2026

PMID:
41966501