Serum aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multifunctional protein-1 (AIMP1), a novel disease activity predictive biomarker of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Secreted aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multifunctional protein-1 (AIMP1) has been reported to have pro-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum AIMP1 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Serum levels of AIMP1 were measured in 160 patients with SLE using a human AIMP1 ELISA kit. Eighty patients were classified as active SLE (SLEDAI-2K ≥ 5), and 80 patients were classified as stable SLE. Correlation between serum AIMP1, SLE disease activity index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K), and laboratory variables related to disease activity or inflammatory burdens were assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis. The optimal cut-off value for serum AIMP1 to predict active SLE was estimated by using a receiver operator characteristic curve, and logistic regression analysis was used to compare the odds ratios (ORs) of laboratory variables in predicting active SLE. RESULTS: The median serum AIMP1 was higher in patients with active SLE than those with stable SLE (8.0 vs. 6.5 ng/ml, p<0.001). Serum AIMP1 demonstrated correlation with SLEDAI-2K and laboratory variables related to disease activity or inflammatory burdens. The optimal cut-off AIMP1 to predict active SLE was 10.09. Multivariate logistic regression analysis including conventional laboratory variables demonstrated that serum AIMP1 ≥10.09 ng/ml (OR 3.919, 95% confidence interval 1.223-12.564, p=0.022) was useful in predicting active SLE. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of AIMP1 were associated with disease activity of SLE and could predict active SLE based on SLEDAI-2K.