Abstract: Objective To study the levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR)、tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα)in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients and its clinical significance. Methods Double antibody sandwich ELISA was used to determine soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor typeⅠ (sTNFRⅠ)、soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor typeⅡ (sTNFRⅡ)and TNFα levels in patient serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)culture supernatants. Other immunological tests were carried out simultaneously. Results ① The serum sTNFRⅠ、sTNFRⅡ、TNFα sTNFRⅠ/TNFα and sTNFRⅡ/TNFα ratios were significantly higher in SLE patients than those in normal control group(P<0.001).There was a significant positive correlation between the levels of sTNFRⅠ and sTNFRⅡ (r=0.88;P<0.001).② The levels of TNFα、sTNFRⅠ and sTNFRⅡ in SLE PBMC culture supernatant were significantly higher than those of normal controls with a positive correlation to the serum levels(r=0.58～0.73;P<0.001).③ The increased level of TNFα was related to infection,whereas the sTNFRⅠ、Ⅱ levels were positively correlated with the clinical scores. Conclusion There is an abnormal TNFα and sTNFR levels in SLE patients,which may play certain roles in the pathogenesis of SLE,and can be used as indices for active SLE.

Key words: Lupus erythematosus,systemic, Receptors,tumor necrosis factor, Tumor necrosis factor alpha