BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a remarkably heterogeneous 
autoimmune disease. Despite tremendous efforts, our knowledge of serum protein 
patterns in severe SLE phenotypes is still limited. We investigated the serum 
protein pattern of SLE, with special emphasis on irreversible organ damage and 
active lupus nephritis (LN) as assessed by renal Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 
Disease Activity Index.
METHODS: We used proximity extension immunoassay (PEA, Proseek Multiplex, Olink) 
to assess the serum levels of ninety-two inflammation-related proteins in Czech 
patients with SLE (n = 75) and age-matched healthy control subjects (n = 23). 
Subgroup analysis was carried out on the basis of organ damage (with/without, 
42/33) and biopsy-proven LN (with/without, 27/48; active LN, n = 13; inactive 
LN, n = 14).
RESULTS: Of thirty deregulated proteins between SLE and the healthy controls 
(Pcorr  < 0.05), the top upregulated proteins in SLE were sirtuin 2, interleukin 
18 (IL18), and caspase 8 (Pcorr  < 0.0006). Of these, sirtuin 2 and caspase 8 
had not yet been reported with SLE. Elevated levels of IL8, CCL2/MCP1, CCL11, 
and MMP10 (Pcorr  < 0.05) were detected in patients with organ damage for which 
the serum levels of CCL11 and MMP10 were particularly informative in organ 
damage prediction. Comparing patients based on LN, elevated levels of CSF1, 
sIL15RA, sCD40, sCX3CL1, caspase 8, sIL18R1, bNGF, and GDNF (Pcorr  < 0.05) were 
detected in active LN. Except GDNF, all LN-associated markers showed usefulness 
in prediction of active renal disease.
CONCLUSIONS: This highly sensitive PEA analysis identified the serum pattern of 
SLE, organ damage, and active LN, with many novel candidate proteins detected. 
Their exact role and suitability as biomarkers in SLE deserve further 
investigation.