尿液中的中性粒细胞凝集素相关脂质调素（NGAL）是急性肾损伤的标志物，表明肾小管受损情况。狼疮性肾病相关的肾损伤表现为肾小球和肾小管部位的损伤。因此，预计NGAL浓度将根据全身性红斑狼疮（SLE）的严重程度而变化。该研究使用SLE晚期（NZB×NZW）F1小鼠样本，以确定血清和尿液NGAL浓度或尿液NGAL:肌酐（uNGAL/C）比率是否可以用于反映饮食、病情和治疗效果。此外，还评估了SLE中血清NGAL水平和各种细胞因子之间的关系。小鼠被分为以下四组（n = 15）：CN组，标准饲料和无治疗（生理盐水;腹腔内注射[i.p.]; 200μL/天）；CP组，标准饲料和甲泼尼龙（i.p. ；5mg / kg / 天）；HN组，高脂饮食和无治疗（生理盐水[i.p.]; 200μL/天）；HP组，高脂饮食和甲泼尼龙治疗（i.p .; 5mg / kg / 天）从6周到42周的每天。CP组的血清和尿液NGAL水平和uNGAL/C值明显低于CN组。此外，血清NGAL浓度与尿液NGAL水平、uNGAL / C、尿液蛋白浓度、尿液蛋白：肌酐比率以及与SLE发病机制相关的几种细胞因子（白细胞介素[IL] 6，肿瘤坏死因子[TNF]-α和干扰素诱导蛋白[IP]-10）的表达呈强烈正相关。这些结果表明，NGAL与SLE的临床病理参数和几个关键细胞因子呈强烈正相关。

Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a marker of acute kidney injury and indicates tubular damage. Lupus nephritis-associated renal injury is characterized by damage to the glomeruli and tubular portions of the kidneys. Therefore, NGAL concentrations are expected to vary according to the severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, samples from (NZB×NZW) F1 mice at an advanced stage of SLE were used to determine whether serum and urine NGAL concentrations or the urine NGAL:creatinine (uNGAL/C) ratio can be used to reflect diet, disease state, and treatment efficacy. Additionally, the relationship between the levels of NGAL and various cytokines in the serum in SLE was evaluated. Mice were divided into the following four groups (n=15): CN, chow diet and no treatment (saline; intraperitonially injected [i.p.]; 200 μL/day); CP, chow diet and methylprednisolone (i.p.; 5 mg/kg/day); HN, high-fat diet and no treatment (saline [i.p.]; 200 μL/day); and HP, high-fat diet and methylprednisolone treatment (i.p.; 5 mg/kg/day) every day from 6 to 42 weeks of age. The serum and urine NGAL levels and uNGAL/C values were significantly lower in the CP group than those in the CN group. Further, serum NGAL concentration demonstrated a strong positive correlation with urine NGAL levels, uNGAL/C, urine protein concentrations, urine protein:creatinine ratio, and the expression of several cytokines associated with SLE pathogenesis (interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and interferon-induced protein [IP]-10). These results suggest that NGAL has a strong positive correlation with the clinicopathological parameters and several key cytokines in SLE.