Serum LGALS3BP is a potential biomarker for interstitial lung disease in dermatomyositis

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To assess the relationship between serum LGALS3BP levels and clinical features in patients with dermatomyositis (DM), emphasizing interstitial lung disease (ILD) and disease activity. Methods The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of LGALS3BP in 63 patients diagnosed with DM, 21 patients diagnosed with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), and 36 healthy controls (HC). Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients were collected retrospectively. Results Serum LGALS3BP levels were significantly higher in DM patients than in IMNM patients and HC (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001). Serum LGALS3BP levels among DM patients were significantly higher in those with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) compared to those without ILD (p < 0.001) or with chronic interstitial lung disease (C-ILD) (p = 0.007). LGALS3BP levels were negatively correlated with pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters, including FVC% (r = -0.639, p = 0.008), FEV1% (r = -0.594, p = 0.015), but not with DLco (r = -0.308, p = 0.264). In addition to ILD, serum LGALS3BP levels were elevated in DM patients with muscle involvement and dysphagia (p < 0.05). Serum LGALS3BP levels in DM patients were positively correlated with albumin, globulin, LDH, CRP, ESR, ferritin, IL-6, and VAS scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion The aberrant expression of LGALS3BP in DM patients may be involved in the pathogenesis of DM-ILD, and additionally, LGALS3BP may be a promising biomarker for tracking disease activity, especially the severity of RP-ILD.