Increased serum soluble CD147 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with scleroderma renal crisis

CD147 is a glycosylated membrane protein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. This study aimed to determine serum soluble CD147 (sCD147) levels and their clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Serum sCD147 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 61 SSc patients and 24 healthy individuals. Serum sCD147 levels were significantly elevated in SSc patients compared with healthy individuals (P < 0.001). Among patients with SSc, there were no differences in serum sCD147 levels between limited cutaneous (n = 30) and diffuse cutaneous SSc (n = 31). Patients with SSc who had elevated sCD147 levels had renal crisis more often than those with normal sCD147 levels (13% vs 0%; P < 0.05). Serum sCD147 levels were increased in patients with SSc and associated with the presence of renal crisis. These results suggest that sCD147 may have a role in the development of renal crisis in SSc. Measurement of serum sCD147 may be useful for risk stratification for renal crisis in SSc.