Evidence mapPaperPMID 41578171Full record

ArticleBMC immunology2026

PHLDB1 and WDFY4 as dual-state biomarkers in SLE pathogenesis and lupus nephritis prediction.

Jianzhao Zhai, Lei Zhang, Wei Jia, Yue Pan, Ping Zhang, Qingyu Zou, Yongkang Wu

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Article in BMC immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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7 authors.

Jianzhao ZhaiDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Lei ZhangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Wei JiaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Yue PanDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Ping ZhangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Qingyu ZouDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
Yongkang WuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Guoxue Alley No.37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China. vipwyk@163.com.

Funding

Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province 2024YFFKO131
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesOur previous study confirmed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with polymorphisms of PHLDB1 and WDFY4 genes. In this study, we investigatedthe clinical relevance of PHLDB1 and WDFY4 in SLE pathogenesis and their potential as biomarkers.

methodsA total of 634 SLE patients from Sichuan University West China Hospital and 400 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Serum PHLDB1 and WDFY4 of SLE patients and HCs were measured by ELISA, and the laboratory indicators were collected through the electronic medical record. LASSO, logistic regression, and random forest models for SLE diagnosis and LN prediction, including variables: age, sex, serum proteins (PHLDB1/WDFY4), genotypes, cytokines, and clinical markers.

resultsResults revealed elevated PHLDB1 in SLE patients compared to controls (1.61 vs. 1.48 ng/mL, P = 0.025), while paradoxically showing suppression in LN versus Non-LN patients (1.42 vs. 1.52 ng/mL, P = 0.031). WDFY4 specifically increased in LN (666.59 vs. 594.57 pg/mL, P < 0.001) without systemic SLE alterations. Machine learning models incorporating these biomarkers demonstrated diagnostic utility, with random forest achieving AUC 0.843 for SLE discrimination and AUC 0.990 for LN prediction. LN patients concurrently exhibited distinct immune dysregulation (reduced IL-6/IL-17 and elevated TNF-α/IL-18) and renal metabolic impairment. These findings position PHLDB1 as a systemic SLE biomarker and WDFY4 as a LN-specific blood indicator, showing promise for clinical subtyping applications. Further validation of these stratified biomarkers is warranted.

conclusionOur results confirm a correlation between the serum levels of PHLDB1 and the occurrence of SLE.

Indexed as

BiomarkersLupus Erythematosus, SystemicLupus NephritisAdultCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedROC CurveBiomarkersBiomarkersGenetic studiesMachine learningSystemic lupus erythematosus

Identifiers

PMID41578171
PMCPMC12911025

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